title: Successful treatment of New World cutaneous leishmaniasis with a combination of topical paromomycin/methylbenzethonium chloride and injectable meglumine antimonate.
abstract: Colombian patients with New World cutaneous leishmaniasis were treated with a combination of a topical formulation (15% paromomycin sulfate/5% methylbenzethonium chloride, twice a day) and parenteral meglumine antimonate (20 mg of antimony [Sb]/kg.d]). Cohort 1 received topical therapy for 10 days and Sb for 7 days; 18 (90%) of the 20 patients were cured (follow-up, 12 months). Other clinical data suggested that neither the topical formulation alone nor the 7-day regimen of Sb alone would have cured many patients. In a subsequent cohort, which received topical therapy for 10 days and Sb for 3 days, the cure rate was 42% (eight of 19 patients). In Colombian cohorts (historical controls) treated with Sb alone for 10-15 days, the cure rate was 31%-36%. Side effects in cohort 1 patients consisted of local reactions to the topical formulation: burning and pruritus in 25% of patients and vesicle formation in 15% of patients. This is the first report that a regimen partially composed of topical antimicrobial agents can be highly effective for treatment of New World cutaneous leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Bogota Military Hospital, Colombia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grogl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001558:Benzethonium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010303:Paromomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D001558:Benzethonium; D010303:Paromomycin; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; C005106:methylbenzethonium chloride