Comparative study of the efficacy of combined cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) vs. cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) alone for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania species. There is a need for more effective and less time-consuming therapeutic methods for this condition.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of combined cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (MA) (Glucantime, Specia, Paris, France) for the treatment of CL.

Methods: Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, 100 patients with 149 lesions were treated with cryotherapy plus intralesional MA; Group 2, 200 patients with 230 lesions were treated with cryotherapy; Group 3, 100 patients with 160 lesions were treated with intralesional MA. These groups were followed for 6 months after the end of treatment.

Results: The results showed complete cure in 90.9% of cases in Group 1, 57.15% of cases in Group 2, and 55.63% of cases in Group 3. The difference between Group 1 and the other groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Combined cryotherapy and intralesional MA is more effective than either cryotherapy or intralesional MA alone for the treatment of CL.