title: [Unilateral chronic granulomatous blepharitis as a leading symptom of Oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis in Germany. Giesma stain as rapid diagnosis and initial description of systemic therapy with gamma-interferon].
abstract: Nine months after leaving the Lebanon, a four-year-old immigrant boy presented with a 5 months history of blepharitis. The lesion remained therapy-resistant for aminoglycoside antibiotics. Six months later, the patient presented with an indolent granulomatous necrotizing purulent blepharitis and follicular conjunctivitis. Diagnosis was made by Giemsa stain and histopathology, which revealed amastigotes in macrophages consistent with the diagnosis of oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therapy with systemic recombinant gamma Interferon, which is described for the first time in this disease entity, resulted in a successful primary healing of the cutaneous lesion. Self-healing epithelial keratitis was the only side-effect observed. Ophthalmologists in Germany should be aware of the differential diagnosis of oriental cutaneous Leishmaniasis in patients suffering from chronic granulomatous lid lesions of patients from countries endemic/epidemic for Leishmaniasis. Laboratory diagnosis is simple. Insights into the immunology of infection have made possible novel therapeutic avenues using gamma-Interferon being effective without serve side-effects and allowing for a good primary healing of the cutaneous lesions.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bialasiewicz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balmes
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Busse
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005143:Eyelids / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma
vernacular_title: Einseitige chronisch-granulomatöse Blepharitis als Leitbefund der orientalischen kutanen Leishmaniase in Deutschland. Giemsa-Färbung als Schnelldiagnostik und Erstbeschreibung einer systemischen Therapie mit gamma-Interferon.