title: Photodynamic therapy as a new treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: We assessed the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 5 patients. Delta-aminolevulinic acid in a water-in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesions and irradiation was performed. The treatment was repeated once a week for a month. Each time, direct smears of the lesions were prepared and cultured in NNN media. In direct staining, smears showed no amastigotes after 1 or 2 sessions. Healing and cosmetic outcome after photodynamic therapy was excellent. Only mild local inflammatory reaction was noted with no scarring and 4 months after the last treatment session, there were no clinical signs of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Medical School, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. ghaffarifar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffarifar
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jorjani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirshams
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Miranbaygi
authors.forename: Z K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000139:chemically induced; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D007492:Iran; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010274:Parasitology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid