title: Efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: The present open pilot study was conducted to assess the efficacy of azithromycin for the treatment of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ara ua and Varzelândia, MG. Twenty-four patients with less of six months of disease evolution were treated after clinical examination, Montenegro test and a biopsy. The treatment schemes consisted of oral doses of 500 mg per day for 3, 5 and 10 days and of 1000 mg for two days. A clinical control was performed monthly and treatment cycles were repeated when necessary until full reepithelialization of the lesions. On the occasion of the final evaluation, 20 patients had completed the study and 17 of them (85%) were cured. The time to obtain a cure was 60 days ifor 6 (30%) patients, 90 days for 7 (35%), and 120 for 4 (20%). The three patients with treatment failure received a pentavalent antimonial for 20 days. No adverse reactions to the medication were observed and a 14 month follow-up did not show recurrence in any patient. These results suggest that azithromycin can be a good therapeutic option for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania Viannia brasiliensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aluízio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prata
authors.forename: Mario Léon
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silva-Vergara
authors.forename: Laércio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ademir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krolewiecki
authors.forename: Jaime Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Edvá Vieira
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Fabiano Geraldo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Pimenta Junior
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Ramirez
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Giraldo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin