Effect of levamisole on the immune status of malnourished children.
Levamisole is known to enhance an impaired immune response. Its function as an immunostimulant was assessed in malnourished children. A total of 26 children suffering from severe protein-calorie malnutrition were selected for the study. Serum immunoglobulins were estimated in these subjects and to assess cell-mediated immunity, enumeration of T lymphocytes and the lymphocyte proliferative response were carried out. The results show an increase in the cell-mediated immunity response in the levamisole-treated group, thereby suggesting that levamisole may help to speed the recovery of malnourished children suffering from various infections.
Prakash
M S
MS
National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai Osmania, Hyderabad, India. icmrnin@ren.nic.in
Rao
V M
VM
Reddy
V
V
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007978:Levamisole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007978:Levamisole