Levamisole, stimulant of the immune system in animal and man
Andrieu, J.M.
Pathologie-Biologie 25(1): 57-66
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-8114 PMID: 322037 Document Number: 118560
Levamisole was capable of restoring cellular immunity as demonstrated by clinical and biological tests (restoration of delayed skin hypersensitivity, increase of the percentage of rosette forming cells and PHA transformed cells). In men, it seems possible to confirm the therapeutic activity of this molecule in a wide range of diseases with suspected or proven immunological deficiency. In different forms of cancer, when most of the tumor volume was first reduced, levamisole therapy significantly increased both remission and survival. In autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus), levamisole seemed to be strikingly effective. In viral infections (zoster, recurrent herpes, aphthous stomatitis) levamisole was able to reduce the duration of outbreaks and prolong the disease-free interval. Encouraging results were obtained in patients with lepromatous leprosis. Other conditions, where an immunological deficiency was suspected, were under study with levamisole therapy. This low MW synthetic drug was perhaps the first pharmacological agent which acted on the host defense mechanisms.