title: Two doses of a lipid formulation of amphotericin B for the treatment of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: To evaluate the efficacy of a short course of a lipid formulation of amphotericin B (L-AmB) for the treatment of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an open prospective study was conducted. Forty-one children with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis received L-AmB, 10 mg/kg daily for 2 days. The comparison groups were 30 children who, in a previous study, were treated with L-AmB, 4 mg/kg daily for 5 days, and 52 children who were treated with meglumine antimoniate. At 6 months after completion of treatment, overall treatment success was noted for 40 of 41 children treated with 2 doses of L-AmB, 27 of 30 children treated with 5 doses of L-AmB, and 47 of 52 children treated with meglumine antimoniate. Abatement of fever, reduction in spleen size, and correction of laboratory parameters occurred more quickly among the children who received 2 doses of L-AmB than among the comparison groups, and the total estimated cost of the 2-dose regimen was also lower than that of the other regimens. Two doses of L-AmB, 10 mg/kg each, is cost-effective therapy for Mediterranean VL in children.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece. vsyriop@cc.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Syriopoulou
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theodoridou
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavlopoulou
authors.forename: Archondia G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Manolaki
authors.forename: Evagelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sereti
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karamboula
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papathanasiou
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Krikos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saroglou
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D000666:Amphotericin B