The Dropout Patient

To the Editor.  The reports of White and Hanifin (114:1314-1315, 1978) and of Alomar (114:1316-1319, 1978) in the September issue of the Archives demonstrate a lack of therapeutic effectiveness of levamisole hydrochloride in atopic dermatitis. These studies are difficult to compare because of the age dissimilarities in the two groups studied, and because of the differences in the dose of levamisole utilized. Both of these reports exclude significant consideration of the dropout patient in analyzing their results, a serious omission, in my opinion.In the study by Alomar et al, the dropout rate of 50% is essentially equal in both groups, with eight dropouts from the levamisole group and seven from the placebo group. We are given the reasons for seven of these dropouts, but unfortunately not told from which group(s) these seven patients were. An eighth dropout is assumed by the comment, "There was an untoward reaction in the