title: Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children with liposomal amphotericin B.
abstract: We used liposomal amphotericin B as first-choice treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in 106 immunocompetent children who acquired the infection in a temperate region of southern Europe (Italy) where Leishmania infantum visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. The aim of the study was to identify the minimum total dose of liposomal amphotericin B needed to cure the infection in children and reduce the period of hospitalization. We conclude that the optimal regimen in immunocompetent children with L. infantum visceral leishmaniasis to be a total dose of 18 mg/kg of liposomal amphotericin B (3 mg/kg per day for 5 days, followed by 3 mg/kg administered as an outpatient regimen on day 10).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute Giannina Gashni, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: di Martino
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacchino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tasso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cascio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gradoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gramiccia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettoello-Mantovani
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bryceson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004586:Electrophoresis; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008081:Liposomes; D000666:Amphotericin B