title: Comparison of intralesional two percent zinc sulfate and glucantime injection in treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in developing countries caused by different species of leishmania parasite, and if left untreated, it will result in a deformed scar after a relatively long period. Although various systemic and topical treatments have been proposed for leishmaniasis, pentavalent Antimony compounds remain the first-line treatment for it. Considering the cases with treatment failure, potential side effects and reluctance of patients to receive the drug, there are continuing efforts to find better treatment alternatives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of the effect of intralesional 2% zinc sulfate injection with Glucantime in treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this clinical trial, 45 patients with clinical diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis and positive direct smear for leishman body were treated by intralesional injection of either 2% zinc sulfate or Glucantime. After simple randomization, in one group the patients were treated with 2 bouts of intralesional 2% zinc sulfate with a 2-week interval, and in the other group they were treated with 6 weekly bouts of intralesional Glucantime. The patients were monitored in two week intervals for 8 weeks. Healing of the lesions was evaluated clinically and by direct smear, and the data were analyzed using SPSS (11.5) software, t-Student, Mann-Whitney and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the end of study, 34 patients completed the study, 10 of whom received intralesional Glucantime and 24 of whom received intralesional 2% zinc sulfate. The healing rate after 8 weeks was 80% in the group receiving intralesional Glucantime and 33.3% in the one receiving 2% zinc sulfate (P=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, intralesional injection of 2% zinc sulfate was less effective in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis than intralesional Glucantime.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmanaisis, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tafaghodi
authors.forename: Somayyeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raftari
authors.forename: Yalda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nahidi