Ijaz Ahmed, Zarnaz Wahid, Zaffar Ahmed.
Vitiligo: Effect of Levamizole pulse therapy.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;13(1):7-12.

Introduction: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, characterized by depigmented patches involving variable surface area of skin. Immune modulating therapies like PUVA and systemic steroids are used in the management of vitiligo with variable results. Levamizole for its immunemodulating effects has been reported to be successful in the management of limited and slow progressing disease. It induces spontaneous repigmentation as well. Aims and Objectives: The study was carried out with a view to determine the efficacy of levamizole in preventing disease progression and inducing spontaneous repigmentation in vitiligo. Material and Methods: The study comprised of 22 patients belonging to either sex, aged 10 to 20 years. All the patients were given levamizole pulse therapy in a dose of 40mg TDS, on 2 continuous days per week for a period of 6 months. All the patients were followed up monthly to look for progression of the disease by Kobner phenomenon and any spontaneous repigmentation. Results: At the end of 6 months therapy, 16 (73%, p<0.001) patients had the progression of their disease arrested as indicated by negative Kobner phenomenon. Of the 22 patients, 12 (54%, p<0.01) patients developed spontaneous repigmentation in their lesions. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the above study that levamizole can prevent progression of vitiligo when the disease is limited and slow progressing. Moreover the therapy can induce repigmentation, which however may not be complete.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com