These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Levamisole in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.
    Author: Hafeez F, Ahmed TM, Samina U.
    Journal: J Coll Physicians Surg Pak; 2006 Jan; 16(1):35-7. PubMed ID: 16441986.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of levamisole in steroid dependent (S.D) and frequently relapsing (F.R) nephrotic, from syndrome (N.S). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Nephrology at The Children s Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 5 years from January 2000 to December 2004. MATERIAL AND METHODS: S.D.N.S and F.R.N.S patients between the ages of 1-15 years, were given levamisole on alternate day in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, if either the dosage of steroids to maintain remission was >1 mg/kg/every other day (EOD), or 0.5 mg/kg/EOD with signs of steroid toxicity. The agent was continued for a period of one year and the steroids were gradually tapered off by 2.5-5 mg every four weeks to less than 0.5 mg/kg/EOD. The patients were monitored for maintenance of remission and side effects of drug. RESULTS: Seventy patients with a mean age of 5.50+/-2.97 years , with male to female ratio of 4:1 were studied. Nineteen (27.14%) patients did not relapse on therapy, while it was ineffective in 11(15.7%). Rest of 40 (57.14%) patients, though, relapsed during therapy, their duration of remission was prolonged from six months to one year, and dose of corticosteroids could be significantly reduced (0.1-0.3 mg/kg/EOD). It was also observed that levamisole is more effective in older children (>5 years versus <5 years) [P-value 0.03]. The only side effects were transient rash and occasional vomiting. CONCLUSION: Levamisole is a safe and effective steroid sparing drug, in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, for the prolongation of remission, especially in older children.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]