title: Diabetes mellitus associated with pentamidine isethionate in diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: The authors report a case of a male patient from Bacabal, MA with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL), for at least nine years, with 168 lesions on his body. These were tumour-like nodules with some ulceration. He used pentavalent antimonial (glucantime) and an association of gamma interferon plus glucantime with improvement of the lesions but relapsed later. Recently, pentamidine isethionate (pentacarinat) was given a dosage of 4mg/kg/weight/day on alternate days for 20 applications. After 3 months a similar course of 10 application was given 2 times. Later he developed diabetic signs with weight loss of 10kg, polydypsia, polyuria and xerostomia. The lower limbs lesions showed signs of activity. Blood glucose levels normalised and remain like this at moment. Attention is drawn to the fact that pentamidine isethionate should be used as a therapy option with care, obeying rigorous laboratory controls including a glucose tolerance test.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Saldanha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barral
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Burattini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D016774:Leishmaniasis, Diffuse Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010419:Pentamidine