Levamisole in a double-blind study: no effect on warts

Levamisole is reported to restore delayed hypersensitivity, when this is depressed. On the assumption that multiple warts, resistant to local treatment, are indicative of some immune deficiency, we chose levamisole for the treatment of warts. The dose, 150 mg daily in 3 days every second week, was given to 49 patients who had common warts and to 50 patients who had condyloma (venereal warts). After 6 weeks of double-blind study, most of the patients underwent open levamisole treatment. However, the levamisole group failed to show enhanced wart regression compared with the control group. No inter-group difference could be detected as regards change in delayed hypersensitivity after levamisole treatment, when measured by the mantoux response.