[Comparative study of meglumine antimoniate, pentamidine isethionate and aminosidine sulfate in the treatment of primary skin lesions caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis]

Abstract

With the aim of comparing the therapeutic efficacy, tolerability and toxicity of meglumine antimoniate, aminosidine sulphate and pentamidine isethionate, a field study was conducted on randomized treatment of patients with primary cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (L(V)b), in Corte de Pedra, BA, from October 1992 up to January 1993. Forty six patients were treated and distributed into three groups, two with 15 and one with 16 subjects. All patients were submitted to clinical examination, histopathological and immunological investigations, as diagnostic criterium. All patients were treated by intramuscular route. Group 1 received pentamidine 4 mg/kg/every 2 days, for 8 applications; Group 2 received aminosidine 20 mg/kg/day, for 20 days, and Group 3 received meglumine 10 mg Sbv/kg/day, for 20 days. Failure of therapy was defined as ulceration of the skin lesion four months after treatment. Such failure occurred in five cases as follows: two cases in patients of group 1 one case in patients of group 2, and two cases in group 3, after the first year of follow up. In the evaluation after three years we reviewed fifteen patients, five in each group; except for one in Group 3, all of them were cured. Statistical significance of the results between the three schedules used was not verified.