Efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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.
Prata
Aluízio
A
Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brasil.
Silva-Vergara
Mario Léon
ML
Costa
Laércio
L
Rocha
Ademir
A
Krolewiecki
Alejandro
A
Silva
Jaime Costa
JC
de Paula
Edvá Vieira
EV
Pimenta Junior
Fabiano Geraldo
FG
Giraldo
Luiz Eduardo Ramirez
LE
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin