[Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by levamisole. First results]. 1977

J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre

Twenty selected patients suffering from severe, long-standing rhumatoid arthritis (RA) not controlled by anti-inflammatory drugs (19 cases) and from disseminated lupus erythematosis (DLE) (1 case) were treated with levamisole. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: Group I comprised fourteen patients (13 RA and 1 DLE) treated continuously by levamisole 150 mg/day for 3 or 6 months then on an intermittent regime (150 mg/day-3 days per week). Group II comprised 6 RA patients treated on the intermittent regime from the beginning. In Group I, following average treatment of 9 months (5-12 months), clinical results assessed according to precise clinical criteria were favorable in 9 out of eleven cases. In the other 2 cases no change was noted. Side effects included reversible agranulocytosis in 9 cases, on 3 occasions this necessitated the discontinuation of treatment. A signifcant reduction in sedimentation rate was noticed in 5 cases out of eleven and in 3 patients the Rose-Waller test turned negative. A monoclonal disglobulinemia of IgG lambda appeared under treatment in 1 patient who was deficient in IgA. Skin tests carried out periodically showed a significant augmentation of the response to candida. Lymphocyte culture in the presence of mitogens gave highly variable results from one control to the other in the same subject, as well as in the treated subjects as in the group of RA not receiving levamisole. These results are compared with those previously published; the mechanism of action and possible indications for levamisole in RA are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007070 Immunoglobulin A Represents 15-20% of the human serum immunoglobulins, mostly as the 4-chain polymer in humans or dimer in other mammals. Secretory IgA (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, SECRETORY) is the main immunoglobulin in secretions. IgA,IgA Antibody,IgA1,IgA2,Antibody, IgA
D007074 Immunoglobulin G The major immunoglobulin isotype class in normal human serum. There are several isotype subclasses of IgG, for example, IgG1, IgG2A, and IgG2B. Gamma Globulin, 7S,IgG,IgG Antibody,Allerglobuline,IgG(T),IgG1,IgG2,IgG2A,IgG2B,IgG3,IgG4,Immunoglobulin GT,Polyglobin,7S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgG,GT, Immunoglobulin
D007428 Intradermal Tests Skin tests in which the sensitizer is injected. Passive Transfer Test,Prausnitz-Kustner Test,Intradermal Test,Passive Transfer Tests,Prausnitz Kustner Test,Test, Intradermal,Test, Passive Transfer,Test, Prausnitz-Kustner,Tests, Intradermal,Tests, Passive Transfer
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
D008180 Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow. Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
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
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001799 Blood Sedimentation Measurement of rate of settling of ERYTHROCYTES in blood. Erythrocyte Sedimentation,Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate,Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates,Rate, Erythrocyte Sedimentation,Rates, Erythrocyte Sedimentation,Sedimentation Rate, Erythrocyte,Sedimentation Rates, Erythrocyte,Sedimentation, Blood,Sedimentation, Erythrocyte
D002175 Candida A genus of yeast-like mitosporic Saccharomycetales fungi characterized by producing yeast cells, mycelia, pseudomycelia, and blastophores. It is commonly part of the normal flora of the skin, mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina, but can cause a variety of infections, including CANDIDIASIS; ONYCHOMYCOSIS; VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS; and CANDIDIASIS, ORAL (THRUSH). Candida guilliermondii var. nitratophila,Candida utilis,Cyberlindnera jadinii,Hansenula jadinii,Lindnera jadinii,Monilia,Pichia jadinii,Saccharomyces jadinii,Torula utilis,Torulopsis utilis,Monilias

Related Publications

J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
October 1977, La Nouvelle presse medicale,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
January 1980, Agents and actions. Supplements,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
July 1982, La Clinica terapeutica,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
June 1976, Revue du rhumatisme et des maladies osteo-articulaires,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
January 1981, Terapevticheskii arkhiv,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
March 1982, Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrznej,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
April 1979, Annals of the rheumatic diseases,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
September 1976, The Medical journal of Australia,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
May 1977, La Nouvelle presse medicale,
J Sany, and G Morlock, and J Clot, and H Serre
August 1978, Annals of the rheumatic diseases,
Copied contents to your clipboard!