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Immunochemotherapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis: a controlled trial using killed Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis vaccine plus antimonial
Author(s) -
MachadoPinto Jackson,
Pinto Jorge,
Da Costa Carlos Alberto,
Genaro Odair,
Marques Marcos José,
Modabber Farrokh,
Mayrink Wilson
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2002.01336.x
Subject(s) - meglumine antimoniate , medicine , leishmaniasis , cutaneous leishmaniasis , regimen , leishmania , placebo , meglumine , leishmania tropica , immunology , pathology , parasite hosting , alternative medicine , world wide web , computer science , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Background Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries in the world, and 350 million individuals are at risk of acquiring the disease. Treatment for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is long, expensive, and associated with important side‐effects. Methods In this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, we treated 102 patients with ACL using either a combination of a single‐strain Leishmania amazonensis killed promastigote vaccine plus a half dose of meglumine antimoniate, or placebo plus the same half dose regimen of meglumine antimoniate, in 10‐day series followed by 10‐day intervals. Results Of the 47 patients in the experimental arm, 47 (100%) were cured after four series of treatment, compared to four of 49 (8.2%) in the control group ( P < 0.0001). Six patients were lost to follow‐up. Conclusions The combination of a single‐strain Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis killed promastigote vaccine with a half dose regimen of antimonial is highly effective for the treatment of ACL.