title: Efficacy of levamisole for the treatment of slow spreading vitiligo.
abstract: Levamisole can be used as an immunomodifier for an effective treatment of vitiligo. A clinical trial was done to assess the efficacy of levamisole in patients of vitiligo. The study was conducted in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2010 to July 2011. A total number of sixty patients were assigned purposively. Among them thirty patients were belonged to Group A, treated with levamisole alone and another thirty patients belonged to Group B, treated with levamisole 160 mg weekly with topical 0.1% fluocinolone acetonide acetate on the lesions once a day for a duration of 6 months. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks interval and were continued up to 6 weeks. Out of all patients from group A, the mean sizes of the lesions were 8.17cm before treatment but 5.90cm, 4.32cm, and 3.57cm at 1st visit, 2nd visit and 3rd visit respectively after treatment. In Group B, the mean sizes of the lesions were 7.50cm before treatment but 4.92cm, 3.00cm, and 4.75cm at 1st visit, 2nd visit and 3rd visit respectively after treatment. Among the respondents of Group A & B, 25(83.3%) and 27(90%) were cured respectively. This study observed that Levamisol with topical 0.1% fluocinolone was more responsive in percentage but the difference was not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Dr Lubna Khondker, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khondker
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011246:Pregnadienetriols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011246:Pregnadienetriols; D007978:Levamisole; C100065:flucloronide