didanosine and Leishmaniasis--Visceral

The term leishmaniasis covers a series of illnesses caused by the protozoan Leishmania; depending on the patient's immune response, the particular species of the protozoan, and the geography, the condition may manifest itself as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral disease. Visceral leishmaniasis has often been found as a co-infection associated with the human immunodeficiency virus, particularly in the region of the western Mediterranean. We report the case of an HIV-infected patient with a history of treated laryngeal leishmaniasis who subsequently appeared for treatment with a tumorous lesion on the dorsum of the tongue that was caused by Leishmania infection.

Topics: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; Antimony; Antiprotozoal Agents; Didanosine; HIV Infections; Humans; Laryngitis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Male; Meglumine; Meglumine Antimoniate; Organometallic Compounds; Spain; Tongue Diseases; Zidovudine

The experience with 52 episodes of visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed in 43 patients is reported. The most common symptoms were fever (81%), splenomegaly (65%), hepatomegaly (63%), and pancytopenia (73%). In 79% of the patients, CD4+ cell counts were < 100 cells/mm3. Prior or simultaneous diagnosis of AIDS was made in 29 (67%) patients. Diagnosis was considered fortuitous in 19% of the episodes. In 27% of the episodes, the diagnosis was made on the basis of demonstration of parasites outside the reticuloendothelial system, chiefly blood (7 cases) and gastrointestinal mucosa (5 cases). Parasites were frequently observed or cultured from blood (22/37 episodes) or the digestive tract (8/9 episodes). High antimony doses were more effective than low doses in achieving clinical or parasitological cure (rate of cure, 80% vs. 40%, p = 0.11). Severe toxicity was observed in six (11.7%) of the 51 treated episodes. Severe AIDS-related diseases [odds ratio (OR) 10, p < 0.05] and CD4+ counts (OR 12, p < 0.05) were independent factors for early death. Prophylaxis with monthly pentamidine was not useful in reducing relapses of visceral leishmaniasis.

Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Allopurinol; Amebicides; Amphotericin B; Analysis of Variance; Anti-HIV Agents; Antimetabolites; Antimony; Antiprotozoal Agents; Blood; Bone Marrow; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Didanosine; Digestive System; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatic Encephalopathy; HIV; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Myocarditis; Neutrophils; Pancreatitis; Pentamidine; Renal Insufficiency; Spain; Zidovudine