title: Mucosal Leishmania infantum infection.
abstract: Mucosal leishmaniasis is a well-known clinical manifestation of infections caused by species belonging to the Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus in Central and South America but not of Leishmania species endemic in the so-called Old World. We report on three cases of mucosal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum contracted in southern Europe. Two patients were immunocompromised; one patient had no underlying condition. Lesions were located in the oral mucosa, oesophagus and nose. All lesions relapsed under standard treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. A cure was achieved after secondary and extended treatment with liposomal amphotericin B or miltefosine. Mucosal leishmaniasis contracted in southern Europe has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions in the naso-buccal-oesophageal mucosa and may occur in previously healthy persons.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Unit, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Clinics Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Joachim.Richter@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanus
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löscher
authors.forename: Gundel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harms
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine; D000666:Amphotericin B