title: Dynamics of parasite clearance in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients treated with miltefosine.
abstract: Parasite loads were quantified in repeated skin biopsies from lesions of 2 patients with Old-World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major and L. infantum during and after treatment with miltefosine. Miltefosine induced a rapid therapeutic effect on both infections with an initial decline of parasites of ∼1 log/week for the L. major infection. These observations illustrate the usability of quantifying parasite loads in skin lesions as a pharmacodynamic measure and quantitative descriptor of drug effect for CL supporting clinical assessment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.p.dorlo@amc.nl
authors.forename: Thomas P C
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Dorlo
authors.forename: Pieter P A M
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Thiel
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Schoone
authors.forename: Ymkje
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stienstra
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Jos H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059208:Parasite Load; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine