A randomized trial comparing a pentavalent antimonial drug and recombinant interferon-gamma in the local treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1991 Mar-Apr;85(2):214-6. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(91)90026-u.

Abstract

In a randomized prospective trial N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate (Glucantime) and human recombinant interferon-gamma were infiltrated around lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in Syria. A previous trial had shown that intradermal application of interferon-gamma promoted the healing of similar lesions in the study area. Twenty patients with 38 lesions received 1-3 ml Glucantime and 20 patients with 37 lesions received 25 micrograms of interferon-gamma intradermally once weekly for 5 consecutive weeks. While all lesions treated with Glucantime were free of parasites after the third injection, only 69% of those treated with interferon-gamma were parasitologically cured by week 10. Within 10 weeks, lesions treated with Glucantime healed completely in 29/38, and partially in 9/38, cases, whereas 1/37 and 13/37 lesions treated with interferon-gamma healed completely and partially, respectively. Perilesional application of Glucantime was highly effective and superior to interferon-gamma for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / analysis
  • Injections / adverse effects
  • Interferon-gamma / administration & dosage*
  • Leishmaniasis / drug therapy*
  • Leishmaniasis / immunology
  • Male
  • Meglumine / administration & dosage*
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Meglumine
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Interferon-gamma