[Clinical experience with levamisole treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (author's transl)]

Abstract

Levamisole treatment was started in 8 patients with inactive SLE. Four patients, who have now been followed up for over 12 months, have not shown clinical deterioration. Three of these patients received concomitant maintenance corticosteroid therapy, the dosage of which could be reduced in each case. A decrease in anti-DNA antibodies was observed in all 4 patients. Levamisole had to be withdrawn in the other 4 patients. One patient developed an exacerbation of her LE skin manifestations after two months, whilst in another patient fever and skin rash (probably drug-induced) were observed after one month. The cooperation of the 2 other patients was not satisfactory and the drug had, thus, to be withdrawn. In conclusion, 4 out of 8 patients with SLE showed a beneficial response to levamisole therapy.