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Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of levamisole in treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Author(s) -
Gier Ronald E.,
George Barbara,
Wilson Tim,
Rueger Arvon,
Hart Jerry K.,
Quaison Felix,
Hardman Patrick K.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1978.tb01610.x
Subject(s) - recurrent aphthous stomatitis , levamisole , medicine , stomatitis , placebo , incidence (geometry) , surgery , oral mucosa , double blind , gastroenterology , dermatology , pathology , physics , alternative medicine , optics
Abstract Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a chronic, painful, ulcerative disease of the oral mucosa, which affects up to 60 % of the population. No effective cure or treatment is available. Levamisole is a drug reported to restore deficient immunologic states to normal and to reduce the incidence and severity of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Sixty‐five patients with attacks of recurrent aphthous stomatitis which recurred at least every 2 months were entered in a double‐blind evaluation of the therapeutic effect of levamisole on their disease. Fifty‐seven completed the double‐blind study by taking the supplied medication for six recurrences of their aphthous lesions. Forty‐two of those completing the double‐blind study entered an open study to evaluate the long‐term effects of levamisole on recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Each patient took the supplied medication at the onset of each recurrence of their aphthous lesions. They were examined and evaluated at each recurrence of their lesions. The levamisole was supplied in 50‐mg tablets and taken by mouth at a dosage of 150 mg daily for 3 days. Pregnant patients were excluded from the study. A reduction in the duration of the aphthous lesions from 10.7 days to 6.07 days was obtained in the double‐blind study by the group taking levamisole. The placebo group had a reduction from 10 to 8.62 days. The reduction in the duration of the lesions continued in both groups in the open study. No reduction was noted in the days between recurrences of the lesions in the double‐blind or open study. No changes were noted in the RBC, WRC, differential white count, hemoglobin or hematocrit. Nineteen patients (33%) experienced side effects to levamisole. The most frequent reported were nausea, dysgeusia and hyperosmia.