Levamisole in infectious diseases--a review of the literature. 1978

J Brugmans

Levamisole is toxic to a range of nematodes with gastrointestinal and systemic localization. Since nematodes are characterized by an immunologically determined pattern of predilections for hosts and tissues, pharmacological, biochemical, and immunological properties must be considered when the mechanism of action of levamisole is discussed. Levamisole causes a reversible stimulation of ganglia and neuromuscular inhibition of the depolarizing type, inhibits nematode-specific succinate dehydrogenase and increases delayed hypersensitivity reactions. The latter effect is mediated by immune cells and may explain why levamisole alleviates chronic and recurrent infections, particularly in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006968 Hypersensitivity, Delayed An increased reactivity to specific antigens mediated not by antibodies but by sensitized T CELLS. Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin-Type,Hypersensitivity, Type IV,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivity,Type IV Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin Type,Tuberculin Type Hypersensitivity,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivities,Type IV Hypersensitivities
D007153 Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Syndromes in which there is a deficiency or defect in the mechanisms of immunity, either cellular or humoral. Antibody Deficiency Syndrome,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunologic,Deficiency Syndromes, Antibody,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunologic,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome,Immunological Deficiency Syndromes,Antibody Deficiency Syndromes,Deficiency Syndrome, Antibody,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunological,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunological,Immunological Deficiency Syndrome,Syndrome, Antibody Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunological Deficiency,Syndromes, Antibody Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunological Deficiency
D007239 Infections Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases. Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D007978 Levamisole An antihelminthic drug that has been tried experimentally in rheumatic disorders where it apparently restores the immune response by increasing macrophage chemotaxis and T-lymphocyte function. Paradoxically, this immune enhancement appears to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis where dermatitis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting have been reported as side effects. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p435-6) L-Tetramisole,Levotetramisole,Decaris,Dekaris,Levamisole Hydrochloride,Solaskil,Hydrochloride, Levamisole
D009349 Nematode Infections Infections by nematodes, general or unspecified. Infections, Nematode,Infection, Nematode,Nematode Infection
D010919 Placebos Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol. Sham Treatment
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D002986 Clinical Trials as Topic Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries. Clinical Trial as Topic

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