title: Efficacy of azithromycin versus systemic meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment is painful, and cosmetic results are often unsatisfying. Azithromycin has been reported to be effective in treatment of CL caused by Leishmania viannia braziliensis. The efficacy of azithromycin was compared with Glucantime in treatment of Old World leishmaniasis. Of 49 patients, 22 received 500 mg/day azithromycin for 5 days/month. Treatment cycles were repeated monthly to a maximum of 4 months; 27 patients received 60 mg/kg intramuscular meglumine antimoniate for 20 days. Both groups were followed up for 16 weeks. In the azithromycin group, 2 patients withdrew because of GI symptoms. The response rates of 20 patients (29 lesions) were as follows: full improvement, 10.3%; partial improvement, 27.6%; and 62.1%, no response. In the glucantime group with 27 patients (58 lesions), these rates were 34.4%, 13.8%, and 51.7%, respectively (P = 0.036). Azithromycin was determined to be not as effective as Glucantime in treatment of Old World CL.
authors.affiliation: Qaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Pouran_layegh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pouran
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Layegh
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
authors.forename: Elham Mohammadi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vosugh
authors.forename: Fakhrozaman
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezeshkpoor
authors.forename: Mohamad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Toktam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moghiman
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D017963:Azithromycin