Cutaneous leishmaniasis during pregnancy: exuberant lesions and potential fetal complications

Daniel J Morgan1, Luiz H Guimaraes, Paulo R L Machado

  • 1Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. djm2008@nyp.org

Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects millions of people worldwide. After observations of atypical lesions in pregnant women at the health centers of Corte de Pedra, Brazil, 9 years of records were reviewed, and 26 pregnant patients were identified. A retrospective case-control study revealed that lesions in pregnant women were much larger than those in nonpregnant patients in an age- and sex-matched group (mean area, 6.08 cm2 vs. 1.46 cm2; P=.008), and many lesions had an exophytic nature. Despite foregoing treatment until after delivery, response to pentavalent antimony therapy was favorable (rate of cure with 1 course of treatment, 85%). High rates of preterm births (10.5%) and stillbirths (10.5%) were reported. Cutaneous leishmaniasis during pregnancy produces distinct lesions and may have adverse fetal effects.

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