Efficacy of prolonged therapy with stibogluconate in post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis

Fifty three (30 male and 23 female), previously untreated, patients with post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) were treated with sodium stibogluconate, at the dose of 20 mg/kg/bw/d/im/(with a maximum of 8.5 ml) for 120 days (or more, if necessary). All the patients were followed up for 12 months. The patients were assessed after 40 days and thereafter at an interval of 20 days. The mean age of onset was 24 yr, maximum number of patients developed the disease within 3 yr of apparent cure of kala-azar. Maximum number of patients sought treatment within 5 yr of the onset of PKDL. The disease affected the face (98%), trunk (83%), upper limb (72%), lower limb (40%), genetalia (6%), and mucus membrane of the tongue 40%. The lesions observed were nodules (19%), papules (30%), and hypopigmented (45%) and reddish macules (7%). The parasites could be demonstrated in the nodules (100%), papules (69%) and macules (59%). The response to treatment started in 72 per cent of patients in the first 20 days and in 40 days in all patients. All the nodules and papules disappeared in 120 days, and the macules within 200 days. The side effects of treatment noted were changes in S T and T in electrocardiogram (7%), arthralgia (11%), allergic rash (7%), swelling at the site of injection (5%), neuralgia (4%) and metalic taste (6%). The S T and T changes reverted to normal when the drug was discontinued for 20 days. Arthralgia improved with indomethacin. The higher dosages and longer course of treatment were well tolerated and resulted in a cure in all patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)