Immunoregulation with Levamisole in Children with Frequently Relapsing Steroid Responsive Nephrotic Syndrome

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Abstract
The immunological and clinical effects of levamisole were studied in 10 children with frequently relapsing steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The efficacy of the drug was tested during remission of the disease with all patients on alternate day steroid therapy. The lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin‐A (Con‐A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were normal. The Con‐A induced suppressor T‐lymphocyte activity of 7 patients was low before treatment with levamisole 8±3.7% and increased to normal values during therapy 34±6%; p+ cells rose during levamisole therapy from 19.7±2.1 to 37±2.3 (p+/OKT8+ ratio from 3.1±0.2 to 1.5±0.2; p<0.001 (control 1.47±0.2). These data support the hypothesis that abnormal immunoregulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of SRNS. Treatment with levamisole can be useful in some patients with the frequently relapsing form of the disease.