Disseminated autoimmune disease during levamisole treatment of nephrotic syndrome

Side effects such as cutaneous vasculitis, which occur during prolonged lev amisole treatment, may discourage the utilization of the drug in relapsing nephrotic syndrome. We describe a child who developed disseminated vasculit is during prolonged treatment with levamisole. The acute phase was characte rized by hepatosplenomegaly, hemolytic anemia, IgM anticardiolipin and p-an tineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. One month after withdrawal of therapy all symptoms had disappeared and tests normalized. This case report, togeth er with other reports on cutaneous vasculitis, suggest caution and close mo nitoring during prolonged levamisole therapy.