title: Degree of responsiveness to levamisole and factors influencing responsiveness and adverse reactions.
abstract: The individual response to treatment, and factors influencing this response, were evaluated by means of Lewi's mathematical model in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients showed a graded response to anti-inflammatory agents ranging from deterioration through moderate to marked improvement. Levamisole was superior to anti-inflammatory agents in preventing deterioration or inducing marked improvement. Patients in an early stage of disease were the best responders and had fewest idiosyncratic reactions. The responses were independent of the treatment schedule used. A threshold dose of levamisole exists, but it is not critically dependent on body weight.
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010919:Placebos; D007978:Levamisole