Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Studies on levamisole--induced agranulocytosis

J S Thompson, J M Herbick, L W Klassen

|September 1, 1980

Summary

Levamisole can cause agranulocytosis (AGC), a dangerous drop in white blood cells. Researchers found a test that may predict AGC risk before it occurs, aiding early intervention.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A review of vinorelbine in the treatment of breast cancer.

Clinical breast cancer·2002

Same author

Gemcitabine as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer: a phase II trial.

Oncology·2002

Same author

Multicenter phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·2001

Same author

First-line Herceptin monotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.

Oncology·2001

Same author

Activity and safety of vinorelbine combined with doxorubicin or fluorouracil as first-line therapy in advanced breast cancer: a stratified phase II study.

The oncologist·2001

Same author

Multinational study of the efficacy and safety of humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody in women who have HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·1999

Area of Science:

Immunology
Hematology
Pharmacology

Background:

Levamisole is used as an immunopotentiator in various conditions.
Levamisole treatment is associated with a significant risk of agranulocytosis (AGC).
The exact mechanism behind levamisole-induced AGC remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the pathogenesis of levamisole-induced agranulocytosis.
To identify potential diagnostic markers for predicting AGC onset.

Main Methods:

Serum from neutropenic patients was tested using fluorochromatic microgranulocytotoxicity (GCY) assays.
Antibody characterization included testing against granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and cell lines.
Leukoagglutination tests and in vitro mixing experiments were performed.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

GCY tests were positive in 10 out of 10 patients with acute neutropenia.
The identified antibody was IgM and reacted broadly with granulocytes.
GCY positivity preceded AGC onset by 2-3 months in two patients.

Conclusions:

Levamisole-induced AGC may involve an antibody targeting granulocytes.
The GCY assay shows potential for early detection of patients at risk for AGC.
Further research could lead to predictive strategies for levamisole-induced neutropenia.