Pentamidine as secondary prophylaxis for visceral leishmaniasis in the immunocompromised host: report of four cases.

Abstract

We report a retrospective and descriptive study of four immunocompromised patients (three with HIV-1 and one with idiopathic CD4+-lymphopenia) with relapsing visceral leishmaniasis seen at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, in whom pentamidine was used as secondary prophylaxis to prevent relapse. Patients experienced between one and four relapses before commencing prophylaxis with subsequent relapse-free periods ranging from 5 to 98 months. Based on these observational data, we recommend large trials to investigate the efficacy of pentamidine over other agents in preventing relapse of VL in the immunocompromised patient.

• Authors: T A Patel, D N Lockwood
• Journal: Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH (Trop Med Int Health) Vol. 14 Issue 9 Pg. 1064-70 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1365-3156 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19552658 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Pentamidine

Topics

• AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections (drug therapy, immunology)
• Adult
• Antiprotozoal Agents (therapeutic use)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• HIV-1
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Leishmaniasis, Visceral (drug therapy, immunology)
• Lymphopenia (complications, immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pentamidine (therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• Secondary Prevention