title: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with HIV.
abstract: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector borne disease caused by various species of the Leishmania parasite. CL is endemic in the province of Balochistan in Pakistan. In certain instances a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-related immunocompromised is associated with atypical clinical presentation and occurrence of reactivated lesions of CL. Such presentations respond poorly to the standard treatment and frequent relapses are noted. We are reporting three cases of localized and disseminated CL due to Leishmania tropica which responded to meglumine antimoniate. Due to the fact that CL is endemic in Balochistan, we did not consider HIV infection as a causative organism. It was their presentation with history of weight loss and fever that prompted Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests for HIV, which turned out to be positive. CL is becoming visible as an opportunistic infection associated with HIV/AIDS and may even be the first symptom in HIV positive patients in an endemic area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Civil Hospital / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Humaira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Talat
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Civil Hospital / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Sharmeen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attarwala
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Civil Hospital / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Mubasshir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate