title: Liposomal amphotericin B versus pentavalent antimony salts for visceral Leishmania in children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a 21-day schedule of liposomal amphotericin B compared to pentavalent antimony salts in the treatment of patients during a first episode of visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, 17 cases of visceral leishmaniasis admitted to Behçet Uz Children's Hospital between January 2005 and April 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The study group was composed of 11 males (64.7%) and 6 females (35.3%). One group included 11 patients who were treated with pentavalent antimony salts, sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimoniate, intramuscularly for 28 days. The second group was treated with amphotericin B intravenously at a dosage of 3 mg/kg on days 1-5, 10 and 21 (a cumulative dose of 21 mg/kg/day). While pentavalent antimony salts were found to increase biochemical and hematological findings, liposomal amphotericin B was responsible for rapid recovery in fever and shorter hospital stay. As a result, our study shows the advantages of both medications independent of their costs.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. Hur.apa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hurşit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Apa
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Devrim
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Reyhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Gülcihan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demir-Özek
authors.forename: Özgür Umaç
authors.initials: ÖU
authors.lastname: Cartı
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000965:Antimony / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000965:Antimony