title: Cure of antimony-unresponsive Indian visceral leishmaniasis with amphotericin B lipid complex.
abstract: Twenty-one Indian patients with visceral leishmaniasis who did not respond to or relapsed after 28-60 days of pentavalent antimony therapy were treated with amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC). Five infusions (3 mg/kg each) given every second day over 9 days (total dose, 15 mg/kg) resulted in a 100% apparent cure response. In 4 other patients who had not responded to antimony, apparent cure was also induced by ABLC given 3 mg/kg a day 5 consecutive days (total dose, 15 mg/kg). Fever and chills developed routinely during the initial 2-h infusions; these reactions were tolerated and diminished with successive infusions. Six months after treatment, all 25 patients were healthy, had parasite-free bone marrow aspirates, and were considered cured. ABLC is effective short-course therapy for kala-azar patients who do not respond to conventional antimony treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kala-Azar Medical Research Center, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate