LEVAMISOLE AS BASIC TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - LONGTERM EVALUATION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (1) , 45-56
Abstract
Long-term levamisole treatment of 201 rheumatoid patients was evaluated. Fifty-nine patients in their 1st yr of treatment were not analyzed; of the remaining 142, 69 (49%) still took levamisole with benefit. Levamisole was stopped in 32 patients (22%) for inefficacy and for reversible adverse reactions in 37 (26%). Leukotoxic side effects were the most common cause of withdrawal (23 patients; 16%). Since June 1977, levamisole was administered on a 1 day/wk schedule (150 mg), with determination of white blood cells 10 h after intake to detect high-risk patients for agranulocytosis. With disease exacerbation during treatment or lack of response after 6 mo., the drug is given on a 2nd non-consecutive day. Since June 1977, cases of agranulocytosis were not observed. Allergic vasculitis did not occur with a 1 day/wk schedule. The absence of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity is stressed. Only 4 patients (3%) were lost to follow-up. Comparison is made to long-term use of gold and D-penicillamine. Levamisole is a useful slow acting antirheumatic drug.

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