Comparison between one and two injections of pentamidine isethionate, at 7 mg/kg in each injection, in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana.

Abstract

In a retrospective study set in French Guiana, the efficacy and tolerance of the intramuscular treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with a single injection of pentamidine isethionate, at 7 mg/kg, were compared with those observed, earlier, using two such injections (given 48 h apart). Although 83.6% of the 281 patients given two injections each were cured, the single-injection protocol was generally as effective, curing 78.8% of 137 patients. The single-injection protocol was also associated with fewer adverse effects than the two-injection. In the treatment of "difficult" cases (those with satellite papules or relatively high numbers of amastigotes in their lesions), however, the two-injection protocol appeared significantly more effective than the single-injection. In French Guiana, therefore, patients with CL should be given one injection with pentamidine isethionate and only be given a second, 48 h later, if they have satellite papules and/or relatively high numbers of amastigotes in their lesions.

• Authors: M Roussel, M Nacher, G Frémont, B Rotureau, E Clyti, D Sainte-Marie, B Carme, R Pradinaud, P Couppié
• Journal: Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology (Ann Trop Med Parasitol) Vol. 100 Issue 4 Pg. 307-14 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0003-4983 [Print] England
• PMID: 16762111 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Pentamidine

Topics

• Adult
• Antiprotozoal Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• French Guiana (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Male
• Pentamidine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome