Abstract
In a group of 69 patients receiving levamisole the drug had to be discontinued in 15 (21-7%) because of intolerable but reversible side-effects including gastrointestinal upset, "flu-like" syndrome, central nervous system disturbances, and skin rash. Reversible agranulocytosis with life-threatening sepsis occurred in a patient receiving levamisole immunotherapy for colonic carcinoma. Neutrophils and platelets were both severely affected. Levamisole-dependent leucoagglutinins appeared with circulating immune complexes during the acute phase of the illness, suggesting an immune drug reaction.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Agglutination Tests
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Agranulocytosis / chemically induced
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Antigen-Antibody Complex
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Centrifugation, Density Gradient
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Complement C1 / analysis
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Drug Hypersensitivity* / diagnosis
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Female
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Gastrointestinal Diseases / chemically induced
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Humans
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Immunotherapy / adverse effects*
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Joint Diseases / chemically induced
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Levamisole / adverse effects*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
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Neoplasms / therapy*
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Neutropenia / chemically induced
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Pain / chemically induced
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Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced
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Urticaria / chemically induced
Substances
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Antigen-Antibody Complex
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Complement C1
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Levamisole