Activity of liposomal amphotericin B against experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Abstract

The polyene antibiotic amphotericin B is currently a second-line treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Lipid-amphotericin B formulations with lower toxicity than the parent drug that were developed for the treatment of systemic mycoses have proved to be an effective treatment for VL, especially AmBisome, a small unilamellar negatively charged liposome. In vitro, free amphotericin B was three to six times more active than the liposomal formulation AmBisome against both Leishmania major promastigotes in culture and amastigotes in murine macrophages. In a BALB/c L. major model of cutaneous infection, liposomal amphotericin B administered once a day on six alternate days by the intravenous route produced a dose-response effect between 6.25 and 50 mg/kg. Liposomal amphotericin B administered subcutaneously close to a lesion had no significant activity. Free drug was ineffective at nontoxic doses. The results suggest that liposomal amphotericin B may be useful in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

• Authors: V Yardley, S L Croft
• Journal: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (Antimicrob Agents Chemother) Vol. 41 Issue 4 Pg. 752-6 (Apr 1997) ISSN: 0066-4804 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9087483 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Drug Carriers
• Liposomes
• Amphotericin B

Topics

• Amphotericin B (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Carriers
• Female
• Injections, Intravenous
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (drug therapy)
• Liposomes
• Macrophages (parasitology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C