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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Dorsal Skin of Hamsters: a Useful Model for the Screening of Antileishmanial Drugs
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Parenteral aminosidine is not effective for Peruvian mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas1, Juan Echevarria, Carlos Seas

  • 1Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander Von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. allanos@upch.edu.pe

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|June 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Parenteral aminosidine sulphate (AS) is not effective for treating mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). In a trial comparing AS to meglumine antimonate (MA), no patients treated with AS were cured, while 47% of those on MA showed improvement.

Area of Science:

  • Tropical medicine
  • Infectious diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) presents limited therapeutic options.
  • There is a need for effective and safe treatments for MCL.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of parenteral aminosidine sulphate (AS) compared to intravenous meglumine antimonate (MA) for moderate MCL.
  • To determine cure rates and adverse events in patients treated with AS versus MA.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized open trial was conducted in Cuzco, Peru.
  • 38 patients with moderate MCL were enrolled: 21 received parenteral AS (14 mg/kg/d for 21 days) and 17 received intravenous MA (20 mg/kg/d for 28 days).
  • Cure was defined as complete healing with re-epithelialization within 1 year.

Main Results:

  • The trial was stopped early due to significant differences in response.
  • Cure rates were 0% (0/21) in the AS group compared to 47% (8/17) in the MA group (P < 0.001).
  • Side effects and laboratory abnormalities were mild in both treatment groups.

Conclusions:

  • Parenteral aminosidine sulphate monotherapy is ineffective for treating mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Peru.
  • Intravenous meglumine antimonate demonstrated significant efficacy in this patient population.
  • Further research into effective MCL treatments is warranted.

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