Treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis by pentamidine isethionate. An open study of 11 patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pentavalent antimonial derivatives (PAD), especially meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime((R))), are usually considered as the first-line drugs for Old World leishmaniasis, but their potential toxicity and the number of required injection, either intralesional or intramuscular, prompt to search for alternative treatments.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficiency and tolerance of pentamidine isethionate in Old World leishmaniasis.

METHODS:

An open pilot study included 11 patients from two regional academic centers, with varied parasitological forms of Old World leishmaniasis, treated with three strictly intramuscular injections of 4 mg/kg of base-pentamidine every other day.

RESULTS:

Tolerance was good overall, and 8/11 (73%) of patients responded well with a quick healing of their lesions, little scarring and no relapse.

CONCLUSION:

Pentamidine isethionate is a safe and effective first-line treatment for Old World leishmaniasis. Larger-scale prospective studies comparing several dosage regimens of pentamidine and pentamidine isethionate to PAD are warranted.

• Authors: I Hellier, O Dereure, I Tournillac, F Pratlong, B Guillot, J P Dedet, J J Guilhou
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 200 Issue 2 Pg. 120-3 ( 2000) ISSN: 1018-8665 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 10773699 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Pentamidine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiprotozoal Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pentamidine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects
• Prospective Studies