title: Itraconazole in the treatment of New World mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A well-tolerated oral drug is required for the treatment of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). Current parenteral treatment regimens with pentavalent antimonials are associated with marked toxicity and significant rates of relapse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose itraconazole for the treatment of MCL.
  
  
  METHODS
  An uncontrolled treatment study was performed in 13 Ecuadorian patients with MCL. Each patient received a daily dosage of 400 mg of itraconazole for a minimum of 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 13 subjects responded to itraconazole during the first month of treatment, but by 12 months after treatment the complete resolution of MCL lesions was observed in only three (23%) subjects. No adverse effects of treatment were reported. Response to treatment was associated with a short evolution of the disease and mild to moderate disease severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged and high-dose treatment regimens with itraconazole are not effective for the treatment of the majority of patients with MCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Investigations, Hospital Vozandes, Quito, Ecuador. mcalvopina@hotmail.com <mcalvopina@hotmail.com>
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvopina
authors.forename: Angel G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.forename: Rodrigo X
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Armijos
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole