抄録
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the common diseases affecting oral mucosa, but its aetiology has not yet been firmly established and its treatment has been unsatisfactory.
Recent immunologic investigations of RAS have focused attention on a possible immunopathogenesis. In this report, 23 patients with RAS were treated with Levamisole, an immunomodulatory agent. Each patient received three tablets a day (150mg) on three consecutive days every fortnight over one month.
The results of this pilot study were as follows.
1) Seventeen of 23 patients (70%) showed beneficial responses. Observed were a lengthening of the time between episodes; a shortening of the duration of the episodes; diminished pain, smartness and local heat; and a decreased number and size of aphthae.
2) Levamisole appeared to have a definite enhancing effect on the cellular immunity as measured by delayed type hypersensitivity to Candida, SK/SD, PPD, Mumps, PHA-P.
3) Several side effects (nausea, headache, granulocytopenia, etc.) were observed during Levamisole therapy, but severe manifestations were not observed. We conclude that Levamisole, a immunomodulator, is effective in treatment of RAS.
