From the Guidelines
Levamisole acts primarily as an immunomodulator, enhancing T-cell function and stimulating both cellular and humoral immune responses in the body. Its mode of action involves increasing T-cell activation and proliferation, restoring depressed T-cell numbers, and improving the function of monocytes and macrophages 1. The drug also increases neutrophil mobility and chemotaxis while stimulating antibody formation.
Key Mechanisms
- Enhances T-cell function by increasing T-cell activation and proliferation
- Restores depressed T-cell numbers
- Improves the function of monocytes and macrophages
- Increases neutrophil mobility and chemotaxis
- Stimulates antibody formation In the context of glomerulonephritis, levamisole is suggested to be given at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg on alternate days for at least 12 months, as most children will undergo relapse when levamisole is stopped 1.
Clinical Use
- Dose: 2.5 mg/kg on alternate days
- Duration: at least 12 months
- Indication: glomerulonephritis, particularly in children to prevent relapse.
From the FDA Drug Label
INDICATIONS: LevaMed (levamisole hydrochloride) Soluble Drench Powder is a broad spectrum anthelmintic and is effective against the following adult nematode infections in cattle and sheep: The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Mode of Action of Levamisole
- Levamisole is a heterocyclic compound that acts as an antihelminthic agent and has immunoregulatory properties 2.
- Its likely mode of action is by mimicry of the thymic hormone thymopoietin, which affects many components of the immune system, including neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes 2.
- Levamisole may form a thymopoietin-mimetic tertiary structure, stimulate lymphocytes by its imidazole component, or be metabolized to O.M.P.I., a reducing compound that affects radical scavenging in multiplying lymphocytes 2.
Immunopharmacology of Levamisole
- Levamisole can act as an immunostimulant or immunosuppressive agent, depending on the dose administered, timing of administration, experimental assay used, and host genetic background 3.
- The drug's actions are modulated by the interaction between the T-cell recruiting efficacy of the sulphur moiety and the cholinergic effects of the imidazole ring 3.
- Levamisole's potential for opposite effects explains certain apparent inconsistencies observed in experimental or clinical assays 3.
Clinical Implications of Levamisole
- The therapeutic usefulness of correctly administered levamisole parallels improvement in tests of cellular immunity 3.
- Therapy with levamisole must be individualized, with the appropriate agent and dosage chosen according to the immune capabilities of individual patients 3.
- Levamisole has been used in various clinical settings, including cancer treatment, with some studies showing promise as an adjuvant therapy for resected melanoma and colon carcinoma 4.