Efficacy and Safety of Pentamidine (7mg/kg) for Patients With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by L. Guyanensis

This is a phase II pilot study comprising 159 patients. The sample size was calculated for a study using a test of difference between proportion considering alpha and beta errors . With an estimated curing ratio of 80 % for group 3 Pentamidine applications 7 mg / kg group and the pentamidine at a dose of 7 mg / kg 58.1 % cure rate, with a significance level 95 % and a 80 % test power .

Clinical and laboratory workup: Full body skin examination will be performed. Ulcerated lesions will be measured and pictured before treatment. Follow-up measurements and pictures were also taken one week, one, two and six months after treatment. Species identification was made through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as described elsewhere. Two months after treatment, additional smears will be obtained from lesions that were not completely healed and/or showed an increase of, at least, 50% of its original dimensions.

Other laboratory exams included complete blood count, sugar, AST, ALT, urea, creatinine and amylase blood levels, stool parasite examination, routine urine examination and rapid test for HIV.

Drug administration: PI (300mg) was diluted in 5 ml of saline solution and a single IM injection (7 mg/kg) was administered at the outpatient unit of the FMT-HVD.

Patients were given a carbohydrate enriched meal before treatment to prevent hypoglycemia and were kept at rest and under close clinical observation until one hour after medication. Rescue treatment with IV injections of antimonials (15 mg/kg every 20 days) was prescribed for those who fail to improve.

Therapeutic failure was defined as the persistence of clinical signs (onset of new lesions, >50% increase in the size of preexisting lesions) or laboratory findings (positive smears) two months after treatment or anytime during the follow-up period.

Adverse effects will be classified as mild (drug-related, well tolerated, with no need of prescription for symptomatic relief); moderate (drug-related, symptomatic prescription required) and severe (clinically detectable impairment of renal, hepatic or cardiac functions).

Inclusion criteria

• Newly diagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis (untreated) with localized lesions ( without maximum 6 injuries ) and Direct Examination positive : amastigotes display in tissue samples ;
• Age: 16-64 years;
• Sex: male and female patients to eligible ;
• Disease Clinical Evolution not longer than 3 months .

Exclusion criteria

• AST > 3 times the upper limit of normal;
• ALT > 3 times the upper limit of normal;
• Alkaline phosphatase > 3 times the upper limit of normal;
• Serum creatinine and urea > 1.5 times the upper limit of normality;
• Blood glucose above 110 mg / dl;
• Evidence of serious underlying disease ( heart , kidney , liver or lung);
• protein and / or caloric severe malnutrition;
• Any uncompensated or uncontrolled condition like active tuberculosis, malignant disease , severe malaria , HIV, leprosy , systemic fungal disease (histoplasmosis, paracoccidioidomycosis) or any other infectious disease;
• Pregnant women or who are breastfeeding;
• Lack of ability or willingness to provide informed consent (patient and / or parent / legal representative); lack of availability for the visits or to comply with study procedures.