title: Efficacy of oral miltefosine in visceral leishmaniasis in rural West Bengal, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as Kala-azar (KA) is a public health problem of tropical and subtropical countries, which infects about 12 million people annually, out of which about 1.5 million are new cases. India contributes a major share of the global burden of VL. For many years leishmaniasis has been treated with pentavalent antimonials. Antimony resistance is a problem in India and in other different geographic areas of the world. Amphotericin B deoxycholate and pentamidine isethionate are effective by parenteral administration and associated with toxicities. The quest for an effective, orally administered, non-toxic and less expensive alternative resulted in the identification of miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine). In India, therapeutic efficacy of miltefosine in VL was assessed by many groups of scientists, mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. No such data is available from West Bengal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to observe the efficacy of miltefosine in VL in rural West Bengal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 71 parasitologically proven VL patients participated in the study who received miltefosine in accordance with the National Vector Born Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of India and were followed up for the following one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall efficacy of the drug was 93% and no significant adverse side effects were observed during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concludes that miltefosine is effective, well tolerated, and easily administrable drug in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis at the field levels.
authors.affiliation: Canning Sub Divisional Hospital, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Pradyumna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Subhasish K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.forename: Ardhendu Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Maji
authors.forename: Pabitra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Swagata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Abhiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Pratip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Sachchidananda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.forename: Krishnangshu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine
keywords: India; miltefosine; visceral leishmaniasis