Treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome with levamisole.

Thirty children with frequently relapsing idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) were treated with levamisole (2.5 mg/kg BW) twice a week for a mean period of 9.9 months. A beneficial effect was observed in 16 children in whom corticosteroids could be significantly decreased without relapse. Levamisole was ineffective in 14 patients. There was no difference between the two groups in the duration of INS, the number of relapses and the duration of treatment with levamisole. The mean age at onset of INS was higher in the group of patients where levamisole was effective (5.8 years versus 2.8 years). In 7 patients who responded to levamisole neutrophils decreased below 4 X 10(9)/l. Transient granulocytopenia was observed in 3. It is concluded that levamisole may be effective in frequently relapsing INS with minimal side effects.