title: Rapid clearance of circulating Leishmania kinetoplast DNA after treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: With the aim of evaluating the utility of the detection of Leishmania kDNA in peripheral blood for the cure assessment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a PCR based method was performed in patients with confirmed VL at three follow-up periods after specific chemotherapy with pentavalent antimonial. In 16 out of 17 (94.1%) patients with pre-treatment detectable kDNA that were clinically cured, the PCR turned negative up to 37 days after the initiation of treatment, remaining negative over 90 days after treatment. The clearance of Leishmania kDNA from peripheral blood of patients with VL hints to occur during or shortly after treatment concurring or preceding clinical recovery.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ. Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jolande
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Disch
authors.forename: Maria Cláudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate