Effect of topical paromomycin on cell-mediated immunity during cutaneous leishmaniasis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical paromomycin treatment on the development of immunity during cutaneous leishmaniasis.


METHODS
Three parameters of immunity were measured in the course of the disease: leishmanicidal effector activity, lymphocyte proliferation (cell-mediated immunity), and antibody levels (humoral immunity). Peripheral blood specimens of 55 treated and 36 untreated patients were tested.


RESULTS
The main results of this study showed that there was a significant delay in the development of leishmanicidal effector activity and to a lesser extent also a delay in the development of antigen-specific proliferative response in the treated compared with the untreated group. No difference was observed between the groups regarding the values achieved in the various tests.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that topical paromomycin treatment delays the development of cell-mediated immunity but does not affect the levels of immunity that are eventually achieved.
Frankenburg
S
S
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
Gross
A
A
Jonas
F
F
Klaus
S
S
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D010303:Paromomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D010303:Paromomycin