Old world cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran: clinical variants and treatments

Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (OWCL) is endemic in Iran and most cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are caused by Leishmania major, and then Leishmania tropica, and rarely by Leishmania infantum.

We aimed to describe clinical variants of OWCL and their treatments.

Through literature search in PubMed, Scopus and Embase and google scholar, we have found articles about variant clinical pictures of OWCL and their treatments.

The following clinical variants of OWCL namely; localized forms, zosteriform, erysipeloid, eczematoid, warty, localized Leishmania lymphadenitis, sporotrichoid, hyperkeratotic, impetiginized, mucosal involvement in CL, lupoid leishmaniasis, chronic lesions due to leishmanization, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, reactivation of CL after transplantation and coexistence of CL with other diseases, are reported from Iran. The mainstay of therapy remains pentavalent antimonial compounds and cryotherapy is an adjuvant to therapy. Treatment with antifungal agents, miltefosine, amphotericin B and herbal extract such as ZH-E have also been used. Treatment of CL in chronic cases and in immunosuppressed patients is difficult and relapse may occur.

In clinical variants of CL with long duration and multiple lesions, systemic pentavalent antimonial compounds are first step of therapy. In case of incomplete response or resistant to classic treatment, combination therapy is indicated.