Effect of levamisole on immunological parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Parameters of cell-mediated and humoral immunity were examined in 8 patients with clinically inactive SLE undergoing levamisole treatment. Lymphocyte transformation with PHA and PMW was temporarily increased in the first month of therapy; at the same time absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cells and B cells increased slightly. However, these differences were not significant statistically. In 1 patient with a diminished percentage of T cells and an increased percentage of B cells, levamisole induced normalization. Antibodies to DNA decreased in 6 patients, while titres of ANA decreased only in one patient. Serum levels of C1q and C3 increased in 7 and 3 patients, respectively. Four patients were treated with levamisole for 12 months, during which time there was neither clinical exacerbation nor deterioration of renal function and the concomitant corticosteroid therapy could be reduced.