Cutaneous leishmaniasis during pregnancy: exuberant lesions and potential fetal complications.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects millions of people worldwide. After observations of atypical lesions in pregnant women at the health centers of Corte de Pedra, Brazil, 9 years of records were reviewed, and 26 pregnant patients were identified. A retrospective case-control study revealed that lesions in pregnant women were much larger than those in nonpregnant patients in an age- and sex-matched group (mean area, 6.08 cm2 vs. 1.46 cm2; P=.008), and many lesions had an exophytic nature. Despite foregoing treatment until after delivery, response to pentavalent antimony therapy was favorable (rate of cure with 1 course of treatment, 85%). High rates of preterm births (10.5%) and stillbirths (10.5%) were reported. Cutaneous leishmaniasis during pregnancy produces distinct lesions and may have adverse fetal effects.
Morgan
Daniel J
DJ
Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. djm2008@nyp.org
Guimaraes
Luiz H
LH
Machado
Paulo R L
PR
D'Oliveira
Argemiro
A
Almeida
Roque P
RP
Lago
Ednaldo L
EL
Faria
Daniela R
DR
Tafuri
Wagner L
WL
Dutra
Walderez O
WO
Carvalho
Edgar M
EM
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies