title: [Efficacy and tolerance of pentamidine for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by por L. (V) panamensis in Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current treatment for human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) relies on pentavalent antimonials. Although efficacy of these drugs is high (around 85%), their widely documented toxicity and increasing resistance makes the search for therapeutic alternatives a priority for endemic countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the pentamidine isethionate for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. (V) panamensis in a pilot clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty three individuals suffering CL were enrolled. Patients received four intramuscular injections of pentamidine (4 mg/Kg/injection) administered every other day, and both clinical efficacy and side effects were documented during the following 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 63 patients enrolled, 43 could be followed for 6 months. 86% (37/43) of treated patients healed all their lesions by 1.5 months after therapy. Treatment failure was observed in only five patients (11.6%; 5/43). One patient showed relapse. Overall tolerance of treatment was good, with adverse events such as local pain and swelling at the site of injection, dizziness and fever, varying from mild to moderate. Hypoglycemia, hypotension or diabetes were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the previously reported efficacy of pentamidine for the treatment of CL in Colombia and Brazil, and, additionally, highlight the low intensity and frequency of side effects in a civilian population. No serious adverse events were recorded.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Columbia.
authors.forename: Sara María
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robledo
authors.forename: Juan Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Puerta
authors.forename: Diana Lorena
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guardo
authors.forename: Iván Darío
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Vélez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010419:Pentamidine