Efficacy of extended (six weeks) treatment with miltefosine for mucosal leishmaniasis in Bolivia.
We investigated whether increasing the period of follow-up or increasing the duration of therapy would markedly alter the 71% cure rate of mucosal leishmaniasis in Bolivia consequent to treatment with miltefosine for 4 weeks. Increasing the follow-up from 12 months to 24 months demonstrated additional relapse in only 2 of 41 patients. Increasing the period of therapy from 4 weeks to 6 weeks only increased the cure rate to 75%. The cure rate of mucosal leishmaniasis in Bolivia, whether 4 or 6 weeks of therapy is used and whether 12 month or 24 months follow up is conducted, is approximately 70%.
Soto
Jaime
J
Centro de Investigaciones Bioclínicas de la Fundación FADER, Bogotá, Colombia. jaime.soto@prodderma.com
Rea
Jaime
J
Valderrama
Margarita
M
Toledo
Julia
J
Valda
Luis
L
Ardiles
Jaime
J
Berman
Jonathan
J
D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine