VISCERAL
LEISHMANIASIS-TEN YEARS ANALYSIS OF EFFICACY OF TREATMENT
Trajkova-Antevska Z, Zisovski N, Muratovska O, Glamocanin S, Martinova K
University Children’s Clinic, Skopje, Macedonia
Objective:
Mediterranean visceral Leishmaniasis-Kala azar is endemic disease in some
areas in Macedonia. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the
treatment of this disease with Nmethyl-glucamine antimonate (Glucantime).
Methods:
During past ten years were diagnosed and treated 29 infants and children,
12 male, on age from 5 months to 12 years. Five of them were infants. All
patients underwent standard clinical examination, biochemical investigation
and bonemarrow aspiration. In one patient was done biopsy of a lymphonode
and in one a hepatic biopsy. All patients were treated with Glucantime
(60mg./kg. BW) i.m., in 14 days cycles and pause of 14 days between. The
cycles were repeated accordingly to the clinical and the biochemical data
before each cycle. The treatment was stopped when biochemical analyses and
bonemarrow aspirates were normal.
Results:
One patient was cured after the first cycle, 7 patients after two cycles,
20 patients after three cycles and
one after five cycles (in circumstances of lacking of another effective
drug). There were not any toxic side effects of the drug.
Conclusion: Treatment with
Glucantime in 14 days cycles and pause of two weeks is efficient and
without toxic effects, even when the cycles are repeated several times,
easy for application and not very expensive.