Visceral leishmaniasis treatment, Italy

Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Dec;9(12):1617-20. doi: 10.3201/eid0912.030178.

Abstract

First-line drug treatment was recorded in 573 immunocompetent patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Italy. In the past 12 years, the proportion of antimonial treatments decreased from 100% to 2.8%, while the proportion of amphotericin B treatments increased from 0% to 97.2%. The countrywide change in therapy is a response to both disease reemergence and increasing antimonial failure.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Therapy / trends
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Leishmania infantum / growth & development*
  • Leishmania infantum / metabolism
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / drug therapy*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / parasitology
  • Meglumine / therapeutic use*
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / therapeutic use*
  • Phosphatidylglycerols / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phosphatidylglycerols
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Meglumine
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Amphotericin B