Two doses of a lipid formulation of amphotericin B for the treatment of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis.
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.
Syriopoulou
Vassiliki
V
First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece. vsyriop@cc.uoa.gr
Daikos
George L
GL
Theodoridou
Maria
M
Pavlopoulou
Ioanna
I
Manolaki
Archondia G
AG
Sereti
Evagelia
E
Karamboula
Aikaterini
A
Papathanasiou
Dimitra
D
Krikos
Xenophon
X
Saroglou
George
G
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
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D000666:Amphotericin B