All issues > Volume 42(4); 1999

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1999;42(4):576-579. Published online April 15, 1999.

Levamisole-Induced Reversible Agranulocytosis in Children with Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome

Su Jin SJ Lee¹, Su Ja SJ Hwan¹, Eun Seon ES Yoo¹, Seung Joo SJ Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Su Jin SJ Lee ,Email: 1

Abstract

Levamisole has been used for nephrotic syndrome due to its immunostimulating, immunomodulating, and steroid-sparing effects. Agranulocytosis, a serious side effect of levamisole, was rare and mostly associated with autoimmune disease, neoplastic disease and HLA B27 except one case in a nephrotic syndrome who was treated with high-dose(5mg/kg QOD) levamisole. This 15 year-old girl with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome, who was negative for HLA B27, was treated with the usual recommended dose of levamisole(2.5mg/kg QOD). She developed agranulocytosis after 5 weeks of therapy and completely recovered in 11 days after discontinuation of levamisole.

Keywords :Levamisole, Agranulocytosis, Steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome