Nephrotic Syndrome Treatment with Levamisole

Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by proteinuria, swelling, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia and these symptoms are often easy to reoccur even when they are controlled by drugs and medications.

One root problem for nephrotic syndrome patients is low immunity. In case of healthy immune system conditions, immune complexes can form when there are antigens attacking the body. These immune complexes can be removed from the body when immune system functions well.

In case of nephrotic syndrome, patients often have immune disorder and this can cause accumulation of immune complexes which can circulate with the blood and enter every part of the body. When they arrive the kidneys, they will deposit in the kidneys and cause a series of kidney problems.

Immune complex in the kidneys can cause abnormal inflammatory reactions which can damage the glomerular filtration membrane. As a result, useful substances in the blood such as proteins and red blood cells will pass through the basement membrane and pass into urine, resulting in proteinuria, hematuria, swelling in the face, legs, feet, ankles, etc as well as low plasma protein and high blood lipid levels.

Traditional treatment is to suppress the immune system so as to reduce the abnormal immune inflammatory reactions. But this can cause some side effects because if the already impaired immunity is further weakened, patients will be more susceptible to various infections and viruses which can make nephrotic syndrome easier to relapse.

Levamisole is an immunopotentiator and it can help enhance the functions of immune cells so as to regulate and enhance the patient’s cellular immunity and humoral immunity. What is more important, though it can help patients with weak immunity, it has less or no effects for healthy immune system.

However, long term intake of any western medicines can cause some side effects. Levamisole can also cause some side effects to nephrotic syndrome patients such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, poor appetite, fatigue, fever, itching, etc.

Even though, it is recommended that nephrotic syndrome patients to consult their doctors before taking levamisole especially if patients have developed renal dysfunction.