title: Visceral leishmaniasis in haemophiliac patients with HIV: four case reports.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an endemic parasitosis in Spain, is increasing as an important opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. We describe four cases of severe haemophilic patients with end-stage HIV disease who present with visceral leishmaniasis. We report the clinical course, methods of diagnosis and response to therapy. From the assessed clinical data it does not appear to be any difference with regard to VL either in other HIV risk groups or in immunocompetent groups. In contrast with previous reports, we have found that despite their immunodepressed state, positive serology for Leishmania was found in three of the four cases. A similar observation has been made in patients with VL who are immunodepressed because of other reasons. We also confirm previous reports of poor response and intolerance of antimony treatment, the deteriorating course of the disease in AIDS patients and that there is only a slight relationship between the disease and the cause of patient death. We agree with the proposition that this pathology ought to be included in the definition critera for AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Luaces
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magallón
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pinilla
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Yuste
authors.affiliation: Haemophilia Centre, Department of Haematology, 'La Paz' Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hdez-Navarro
keywords: Amphotericin B.; HIV infection; leishmaniasis