Cell-mediated immunity in seronegative spondarthritis treated with levamisole in a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

The T-cell mediated immunity in 21 patients with seronegative spondarthritis was tested with mitogens PHA, PWM, Con-A and MLC, and found to be reduced except when tested with Con-A. The patients were then treated with levamisole or placebo for 12 weeks in a double-blind trial. During treatment the T-cell responses normalized in both groups, and it is concluded that the enhanced response is independent of levamisole. Earlier we reported clinical improvement in levamisole treated patients and the data of the present study suggest that the effect of levamisole occurs locally in the inflamed tissues.