title: Treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: a comparison between low dosage (5 mg/kg/day) and high dosage (20 mg/kg/day) antimony regimens.
abstract: Twenty-three patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-an area of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis transmission-were randomly assigned to receive either a high dose (20 mg/kg/day) of antimony or a lower one (5 mg/kg/day) in a 30 days series. The two treatment regimens showed similar responses. In 10 out of 12 patients receiving a dose of 5 mg/kg/day and 9 out of 11 patients with a dosage of 20 mg/kg/day a complete epithelization was noted by the end of treatment. In addition patients were followed for up to 7 years. No reactivation or development of mucosal lesions were observed in both groups during the extensive follow-up. We think that a low dosage of antimony could be equally effective than a higher one, at least in the presence of the clinical picture usually seen in Rio de Janeiro.
authors.affiliation: Evandro Chagas' Hospital, Rio De Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Neto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schubach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves-Costa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirmez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000965:Antimony / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D000965:Antimony