@article{fdi:010082818,
  title = {{A}dverse reactions with levamisole vary according to its indications and misuse : a systematic pharmacovigilance study},
  author = {{C}ampillo, {J}. {T}. and {E}iden, {C}. and {B}oussinesq, {M}ichel and {P}ion, {S}{\'e}bastien and {F}aillie, {J}. {L}. and {C}hesnais, {C}{\'e}dric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}evamisole was initially prescribed for the treatment of intestinal worms. {B}ecause of immunomodulatory properties, levamisole has been used in inflammatory pathologies and in cancers in association with 5-fluorouracil. {L}evamisole is misused as a cocaine adulterant. {P}ost-marketing reports have implicated levamisole in the occurrence of adverse drug reactions ({ADR}s) and its use is now limited in {E}urope and {N}orth {A}merica. {I}n contrast, all other parts of the {W}orld continue to use single-dose levamisole as an anthelmintic. {T}he aim of this study was to identify {ADR}s reported after levamisole exposure in {V}igi{B}ase, the {W}orld {H}ealth {O}rganisation's pharmacovigilance database, and analyse their frequency compared to other drugs and according to levamisole type of use. {M}ethods {A}ll levamisole-related {ADR}s were extracted from {V}igi{B}ase. {D}isproportionality analyses were conducted to investigate psychiatric, hepatobiliary, renal, vascular, nervous, blood, skin, cardiac, musculoskeletal and general {ADR}s associated with levamisole and other drugs exposure. {I}n secondary analyses, we compared the frequency of {ADR}s between levamisole and mebendazole and between levamisole type of use. {R}esults {A}mong the 1763 levamisole-related {ADR}s identified, psychiatric disorders (reporting odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals: 1.4 [1.2-2.6]), hepatobiliary disorders (2.4 [1.9-4.3]), vasculitis (6.5 [4.1-10.6]), encephalopathy (22.5 [17.4-39.9]), neuropathy (4.3 [2.9-7.1]), haematological disorders, mild rashes and musculoskeletal disorders were more frequently reported with levamisole than with other drug. {T}he majority of levamisole-related {ADR}s occurred when the drug was administrated for a non-anti-infectious indication. {C}onclusion {T}he great majority of the levamisole-related {ADR}s concerned its immunomodulatory indication and multiple-dose regimen. {O}ur results suggest that single-dose treatments for anthelmintic action have a good safety profile.},
  keywords = {adverse drug reactions ; disproportionality ; levamisole ; pharmacovigilance},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}ritish {J}ournal of {C}linical {P}harmacology},
  volume = {88},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {1094--1106},
  ISSN = {0306-5251},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1111/bcp.15037},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082818},
}