Immunostimulant therapy with levamisole for rheumatoid arthritis.
In a controlled study involving thirty-four patients levamisole was shown to be as effective as D-penicillamine and more effective than placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Its action was slow and was accompanied by a reduction in erythrocyte sedimentation-rate, rheumatoid factor, and technetium index. These properties indicate that it has a specific action like that of D-penicillamine. Stimulation of cell-mediated immunity was evident in patients treated with levamisole, and there was a correlation between such changes and pain relief. Animal models confirmed the absence of anti-inflammatory effect and provided some evidence of enhancement of cell-mediated immunity and macrophage stimulation.
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007978:Levamisole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D051381:Rats; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010919:Placebos; D007978:Levamisole; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D010396:Penicillamine