Topical treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major: a double-blind control study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A controlled study of the efficacy of topical paromomycin sulfate (PR) and methylbenzethonium chloride (MBCl) in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has not yet been performed.

OBJECTIVE:

The therapeutic effect of an ointment containing 15% PR and either 12% or 5% MBCl (15/12 or 15/5 P-ointment) on patients suffering from Old World CL was examined in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study.

METHODS:

Thirty-nine patients with Old World CL caused by Leishmania major were treated topically, twice daily, for 10 to 20 days with 15/12 or 15/5 P-ointment and 10 to 20 days with a placebo ointment to achieve a total of 30 days of treatment in all groups.

RESULTS:

In the P-ointment-treated groups, 74.2% (29 of 39 patients) of the patients were cured versus 26.6% (4 of 15 patients) in the placebo-treated group. Little difference was found between the 15/12 and 15/5 P-ointment groups.

CONCLUSION:

In most of the patients treated with the active ingredients, total elimination of the parasites was achieved within the first 10 days of treatment.

• Authors: J el-On, S Halevy, M H Grunwald, L Weinrauch
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 27 Issue 2 Pt 1 Pg. 227-31 (Aug 1992) ISSN: 0190-9622 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1430361 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Ointments
• Benzethonium
• Paromomycin
• methylbenzethonium chloride

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Animals
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (therapeutic use)
• Benzethonium (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Leishmania tropica
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ointments
• Paromomycin (therapeutic use)