Immunoregulation with levamisole in children with frequently relapsing steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome. 1988

R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

The immunological and clinical effects of levamisole were studied in 10 children with frequently relapsing steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The efficacy of the drug was tested during remission of the disease with all patients on alternate day steroid therapy. The lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin-A (Con-A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were normal. The Con-A induced suppressor T-lymphocyte activity of 7 patients was low before treatment with levamisole 8 +/- 3.7% and increased to normal values during therapy 34 +/- 6%; p less than 0.001 (control 32 +/- 5%). In these 7 children prednisolone dosage could be decreased significantly or discontinued altogether (44.1 +/- 5.3%). Patients without immunoregulatory abnormalities did not respond to levamisole. In 3 out of 4 children tested the percentage of OKT8+ cells rose during levamisole therapy from 19.7 +/- 2.1 to 37 +/- 2.3 (p less than 0.001), thus correcting the elevated pre-treatment OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio from 3.1 +/- 0.2 to 1.5 +/- 0.2; p less than 0.001 (control 1.47 +/- 0.2). These data support the hypothesis that abnormal immunoregulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of SRNS. Treatment with levamisole can be useful in some patients with the frequently relapsing form of the disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
D008213 Lymphocyte Activation Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION. Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
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
D012074 Remission Induction Therapeutic act or process that initiates a response to a complete or partial remission level. Induction of Remission,Induction, Remission,Inductions, Remission,Remission Inductions
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
D002699 Chlorambucil A nitrogen mustard alkylating agent used as antineoplastic for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and others. Although it is less toxic than most other nitrogen mustards, it has been listed as a known carcinogen in the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985). (Merck Index, 11th ed) 4-(Bis(2-chloroethyl)amino)benzenebutanoic Acid,Amboclorin,CB-1348,Chloraminophene,Chlorbutin,Leukeran,Lympholysin,N,N-Di-(2-chloroethyl)-p-aminophenylbutyric Acid,NSC-3088,CB 1348,CB1348,NSC 3088,NSC3088
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

Related Publications

R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
February 2006, Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany),
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
October 2017, Indian pediatrics,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
January 2006, Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
May 2014, Indian pediatrics,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
October 2001, Clinical nephrology,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
June 1997, Journal of paediatrics and child health,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
January 2016, Central-European journal of immunology,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
January 1987, American journal of nephrology,
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
March 2013, Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany),
R Drachman, and M Schlesinger, and U Alon, and J Mor, and A Etzioni, and H Shapira, and M Ohali, and A Drukker
December 2023, Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN,
Copied contents to your clipboard!