Leishmaniasis and itraconazole: a controlled clinical trial on cutaneous subtypes

Abstract

Ten patients each with the nodular and ulcerative forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis were selected by clinical and pathological criteria. Capsule itraconazole was given in a daily dose of 4 mg per kg body weight (max. 200 mg) for 6 weeks. Six patients (60.0%) of the nodular and nine patients (90.0%) of the ulcerative subgroups were cured by strict clinical and parasitological criteria. No major adverse effects were noted. Review after 6 months revealed no recurrences. In another ten patients (control group) not receiving any drug, the lesions showed no significant change except for one patient demonstrating spontaneous remission. Thus, itraconazole has a promising antileishmanial potential in India.