Levamisole in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome. 2006

Farkhanda Hafeez, and Tahir Masood Ahmed, and Uzma Samina
Department of Paediatric Nephrology, The Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Feroze Pur Road, Lahore. drfarkh@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of levamisole in steroid dependent (S.D) and frequently relapsing (F.R) nephrotic, from syndrome (N.S). METHODS Quasi-experimental study. METHODS Department of Nephrology at The Children s Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 5 years from January 2000 to December 2004. METHODS S.D.N.S and F.R.N.S patients between the ages of 1-15 years, were given levamisole on alternate day in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, if either the dosage of steroids to maintain remission was >1 mg/kg/every other day (EOD), or 0.5 mg/kg/EOD with signs of steroid toxicity. The agent was continued for a period of one year and the steroids were gradually tapered off by 2.5-5 mg every four weeks to less than 0.5 mg/kg/EOD. The patients were monitored for maintenance of remission and side effects of drug. RESULTS Seventy patients with a mean age of 5.50+/-2.97 years , with male to female ratio of 4:1 were studied. Nineteen (27.14%) patients did not relapse on therapy, while it was ineffective in 11(15.7%). Rest of 40 (57.14%) patients, though, relapsed during therapy, their duration of remission was prolonged from six months to one year, and dose of corticosteroids could be significantly reduced (0.1-0.3 mg/kg/EOD). It was also observed that levamisole is more effective in older children (>5 years versus <5 years) [P-value 0.03]. The only side effects were transient rash and occasional vomiting. CONCLUSIONS Levamisole is a safe and effective steroid sparing drug, in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, for the prolongation of remission, especially in older children.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
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
D008297 Male Males
D009404 Nephrotic Syndrome A condition characterized by severe PROTEINURIA, greater than 3.5 g/day in an average adult. The substantial loss of protein in the urine results in complications such as HYPOPROTEINEMIA; generalized EDEMA; HYPERTENSION; and HYPERLIPIDEMIAS. Diseases associated with nephrotic syndrome generally cause chronic kidney dysfunction. Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome,Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome,Multi-Drug Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Pediatric Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome,Multi Drug Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Dependent,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Resistant,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Sensitive,Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndromes,Syndrome, Nephrotic,Syndrome, Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic
D011239 Prednisolone A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states. Di-Adreson-F,Predate,Predonine,Di Adreson F,DiAdresonF
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
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
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug

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