Amphotericin versus pentamidine in antimony-unresponsive kala-azar.
We compared the efficacy of amphotericin B and pentamidine isethionate in a prospective randomised trial in 120 uncomplicated and parasitologically confirmed cases of antimony-unresponsive kala-azar. Doses were twenty intramuscular injections of pentamidine 4 mg/kg on alternate days or fourteen definitive doses of amphotericin 0.5 mg/kg infused in 5% dextrose on alternate days. 48 (80%) patients given pentamidine showed initial cure and 46 (77%) showed definitive cure compared with 60 (100%) and 59 (98%) cases, respectively, on amphotericin (p < 0.001). Amphotericin also brought about quicker abatement of fever and more complete spleen regression.
Department of Medicine, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Bihar, India.
M
M
Mishra
U K
UK
Biswas
D N
DN
Jha
A B
AB
Khan
D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D010419:Pentamidine; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate