nifurtimox and Leishmaniasis--Mucocutaneous

Topics: Allopurinol; Aminoquinolines; Antimony; Antimony Sodium Gluconate; Cryosurgery; Humans; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous; Levamisole; Liposomes; Meglumine; Meglumine Antimoniate; Metronidazole; Nifurtimox; Organometallic Compounds; Phenothiazines; Rifampin

At a dosage level of 8 to 10 mg/kg body-weight daily for 120 days nifurtimox was associated with clinical healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis in five of eight patients. At a dosage level of 20 mg/kg body-weight daily for 10 days in six of 10 patients the skin ulcer healed. Results and the reasons why both schemes are impracticable are briefly discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Nifurtimox; Nitrofurans

A trial of Nifurtimox (Lampit) in 26 patients with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is reported. 13 patients with cutaneous lesions and 13 patients with mucosal disease were treated with a daily oral divided dose of 10 mg/kg body-weight for 30 days. 46% of the cutaneous cases and only 15% of the mucosal cases apparently responded to this regimen during at least one year of follow up. The difficulties of assessing cure in this disease are briefly discussed. We consider that Nifurtimox remains an investigational drug. While possibly exhibiting some anti-leishmanial activity it cannot be recommended for routine use in either form of the disease.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous; Middle Aged; Nasal Mucosa; Nifurtimox; Nitrofurans