Change in immune response in children suffering from opisthorchosis and attempt at its correction using Levamisol

The number of circulating T-, B- and O-lymphocytes, the activity of non-specific T-suppressors, the ability of lymphocytes to blasttransformation with PHA and the levels of M, G and A immunoglobulins in blood serum were studied in 40 children suffering from chronic opisthorchosis and in 18 virtually healthy children (mean age 9 years). The affected children were studied before and after treatment with Levamisol. It has been established that the number of T-lymphocytes is reduced and the activity of non-specific T-suppressors decreases considerably in children suffering from chronic opisthorchosis which by its nature is a heavy allergosis. Through a similar factor, the inhibition of the activity of T-helpers is reduced and conditions are created for increased antibody production in the organism of the patients without an increase in the level of B-lymphocytes. Consequently, manifestations of autoimmune and allergic reactions of the immediate and delayed type can be expected to occur in such patients. Treatment of the affected children with Levamisol (2 mg/l kg body mass every other day, 3 administrations of the preparation in one course) showed an immunoregulative effect characterized by intensification of the formerly reduced activity of T-suppressors (P less than 0.001), decrease in the number of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and normalization of IgA concentration in blood serum. It is recommended to include Levamisol, together with anthelminthics, in complex opisthorchosis therapy so as to realize its immunoregulative effect because the antiparasitic therapy using Chloxil (anthelmithic), while showing good dehelminthizing results, failed to promote correction of immune disturbances observed during opisthorchis invasion and in opisthorchosis convalescents.