Levamisole (Decaris)

An antihelminthic drug that has been tried experimentally in rheumatic disorders where it apparently restores the immune response by increasing macrophage chemotaxis and T-lymphocyte function. Paradoxically, this immune enhancement appears to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis where dermatitis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting have been reported as side effects. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p435-6)

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Networked: 2188 relevant articles (252 outcomes, 341 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Drug Context: Research Results

Experts

1.	Martin, Richard J: 5 articles (01/2021 - 01/2010)
2.	Robertson, Alan P: 5 articles (01/2021 - 01/2010)
3.	Ge, Meili: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
4.	Huang, Jinbo: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
5.	Li, Xingxin: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
6.	Nie, Neng: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
7.	Shao, Yingqi: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
8.	Zhang, Jing: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
9.	Zheng, Yizhou: 5 articles (08/2020 - 08/2013)
10.	Bagga, Arvind: 5 articles (01/2019 - 12/2003)

Related Diseases

1.	Infections 01/01/1982 - "Levamisole was most effective for treating rats seven days after infection but its efficacy dropped as infection progressed. " 05/28/2023 - "Levamisole hydrochloride (HCl) has demonstrated efficacy against monogenean infections in various fish species; however, research focused on Microcotyle sebastis infections in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) remains limited. " 01/01/1998 - "The results show an increase in the cell-mediated immunity response in the levamisole-treated group, thereby suggesting that levamisole may help to speed the recovery of malnourished children suffering from various infections." 07/01/1989 - "Efficacy of levamisole against immature and mature nematodes in goats with induced infections." 01/01/1988 - "Efficacy of a levamisole bolus in Ostertagia and Cooperia infections."
2.	Nephrotic Syndrome (Syndrome, Nephrotic) 05/01/2014 - "Levamisole was effective in 77.3% children with a better (80.6%) efficacy in frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome. " 01/01/2016 - "Levamisole is effective in reducing the number of relapses in children with frequently relapsing and steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. " 06/01/2015 - "These results indicate that levamisole is effective in nephrotic syndrome in adults, as well as in children, and point to molecular mechanisms for this drug's actions in podocyte diseases. " 06/16/2019 - "In this article, we review recent data from randomized trials and observational studies to assess the efficacy of levamisole in frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome and steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome." 09/01/2020 - "Efficacy of Levamisole in children with Frequent Relapsing and Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome at Tertiary Care Center-Karachi."
3.	Colonic Neoplasms (Colon Cancer) 03/20/2005 - "Intergroup trial 0153 (Southwest Oncology Group trial 9415) was developed to compare the efficacy of continuous-infusion FU (CIFU) plus levamisole to FU/LV plus levamisole in the adjuvant treatment of high-risk Dukes' B2 and C1 or C2 colon cancer. " 01/01/2006 - "Levamisole (LMS) has immunomodulatory activity, stimulates the immune system of healthy, normal volunteers and has been proposed previously as a colon cancer preventive agent. " 04/01/2004 - "Colon 205 cells, a human colonic cancer cell line, were exposed to Escherichia coli LPS (1 microg/mL) in the presence of levamisole (1 microm to 1 mm). " 12/01/1999 - "Levamisole (LMS), utilized in the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage III colon cancer, is immunomodulatory. " 01/01/1994 - "Adjuvant systemic 5-FU/levamisole is currently the standard adjuvant treatment for stage III colon cancer. "
4.	Neoplasms (Cancer) 02/01/1979 - "The results suggest that levamisole is effective in the patients whose tumor cells have been decreased by any method." 11/01/1978 - "These results demonstrate the efficacy of levamisole as a restorative agent of the general and tumor-associated immunocompetency in the immunodepressed host." 01/01/1995 - "Failure to demonstrate antitumor effects on cellular immunity by levamisole in both human and murine studies suggests that these effects, if they do exist, may involve immunological parameters that were not tested using our methods or that may not be apparent in patients with more advanced malignancy." 08/01/1994 - "A Phase I study of rIL-2 and levamisole was performed to evaluate the activity, toxicity, and effect on immune parameters of this combination of agents in patients with advanced malignancy. " 11/01/1991 - "Numerous preclinical evaluations and clinical trials with levamisole in the cancer arena have been sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and other agencies worldwide with the hopes of demonstrating anticancer activity. "
5.	Rheumatoid Arthritis 01/01/1982 - "This cytotoxic defect may be an important pathogenetic factor in rheumatoid arthritis and this new assay may be helpful in selecting candidates who are most likely to respond to levamisole." 10/08/1978 - "The comparison of blood eosinophil counts and stool parasites in two groups of patients--twenty one suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and twenty one from other various diseases--did not show any significant difference in favour of a parasitological etiology in rheumatoid arthritis, an hypothesis which had to be considered because of the efficacy of levamisole in the treatment of this disease." 11/01/1981 - "A randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare the efficacy of 2 different regimens for levamisole in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis over a period of six months. " 04/01/1979 - "Treatment with levamisole frequently results in clinical improvement in rheumatoid arthritis, but this is not clearly related to a stimulatory effect on cell-mediated immunity. " 09/04/1976 - "A case of classical rheumatoid arthritis of 12 years' duration, was treated during an exacerbation with levamisole and remission was induced. "

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Related Therapies and Procedures

1.	Therapeutics
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3.	Immunotherapy
4.	Adjuvant Chemotherapy
5.	Radiotherapy