[Immunologic state and effect of long-term levamisole therapy on selected immunologic parameters in children with...

Immunological system was tested in 14 children aged between 1.5 and 14 years (mean 5.4 years) with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome during remission. Levamisole (Decaris Richter) was administered in the dose of 2-3.5 mg/kg twice a week for 2.5-6 months. Immunological tests carried out before treatment showed a decrease in total T-cells and T2 subpopulation in 78.6% of patients in comparison with normal values for this age group; a decrease in total B-cells was noted in 87.6% of patients, and percentage of these cells was decreased on 57.1% of cases; gamma-globulins in blood serum were decreased below lower normal values in all children whereas serum IgM levels were above the upper limit of the normal values. Therapy with levamisole normalized total T-cells in 91.7% of patients (p < .05) mainly due to an increase in the number of T1 cells (by 127% in 7 patients in comparison with baseline values considered as 100%); total number of B-cells reached the values normal for this age group in 83.1% of patients (< .05) while percentage of these cells normalized in 66.7% of patients (p < .05), increasing by mean 66.7% in 6 children. It seems that immunologic status of patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome during remission depends, at least partially, on the recurrent respiratory tract infections and/or urinary tract infections accompanying the underlying disease. No significant levamisole effect on blood SGOT, SGPT, platelet count and leucocytosis was noted.