title: Topical and Intradermal Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Methylene Blue and Light-Emitting Diode in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania braziliensis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The topical and intradermal photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of methylene blue (MB) using light-emitting diode (LED) as light source (MB/LED-PDT) in the treatment of lesions of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania braziliensis in hamsters were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hamsters were infected in the footpad with 4×10(7) promastigotes of L. braziliensis and divided in 4 groups: Control group was not treated, AmB group was treated with amphotericin B, MB-Id group received intradermal MB at the edge of the lesion and MB-Tp group received MB topic. After treatment with MB, the animals were illuminated using red LEDs at the 655 nm wavelength for 1 hour. The MB/LED-PDT was carried out three times a week for 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals of MB-Tp group presented lesion healing with significant diminution in extent of the lesion, and reduced parasite burden compared to control group; however, no significant difference was seen compared to the AmB group. MB-Tp group also showed reconstitution of the epithelium, the formation of collagen fibers, organization in the epidermis, a little disorganization and inflammation in the dermis. MB-Id was ineffective in all parameters evaluated, and it was comparable to the control group results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that PDT with the use of MB-Tp and LED may be an alternative for the treatment of ACL. However, additional studies are being conducted to assess the potential of MB/LED-PDT, alone or in combination with conventional therapy, for the treatment of ACL.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Raquel
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sbeghen
authors.affiliation: Center for Zoonosis Control, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evandra Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Voltarelli
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tácito Graminha
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Campois
authors.affiliation: Departament of Pharmacy, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analyses and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Mara Alessi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aristides
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphophysiology Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luzmarina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilker
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analyses and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Valdrinez Campana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lonardoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analyses and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Gomes Verzignassi
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Silveira
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania braziliensis; Photodynamic therapy; Treatment