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: A comparison of low dose levamisole and penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis. Author: Clemens LE, Ansell BM, Bernstein RM, Hall MA, McCauley D. Journal: Aust N Z J Med; 1983 Dec; 13(6):578-82. PubMed ID: 6586147. Abstract: Levamisole (150 mg once weekly) was compared with penicillamine (250 mg daily) in a single blind independent observer study in 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis over twelve months. Fifty percent (8/16) of patients stopped levamisole, five within three months of starting, while only two of twelve stopped penicillamine. In those patients able to tolerate treatment for twelve months, both regimens produced a significant and comparable reduction in disease activity, with the onset of action of penicillamine occurring at three months compared with six to nine months for levamisole. Radiological progression of disease occurred in both groups. Levamisole in low dose may improve parameters of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis but poor patient tolerance, slow onset of action and failure to prevent radiological progression limit its usefulness.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]