Evaluation of theraputic response to systemic Meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) in children with acute Cutaneous Leishmaniasis comparing with adult patients

A clinical trial which was performed during 12 months period on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) affected patients who visited the dermatology clinics of Qaem and Imama reza hospital and Villa's health center in Mashad-Iran. The parasitological diagnosis confirmed using Geimsa-stained direct smear and treatment was performed on an out-patient basis. To minimize the possibility of natural self healing, lesions with duration of more than 12 weeks were excluded. Ninety nine patients who met our criteria were in 2 groups. 52 patients were ≤15 y and 47 patients were >15 y. The patients were asked to come back clinic 20 days after beginning of the treatment and 45 days after the finishing for follow-up. They were strongly advised not to use any other therapeutic methods during this period. Intramuscular Meglimine Antimoniate (Glucantime®, Specia, Paris, France) was prescribed for each patient with the dosage of 60 mg/kg/day for 20 days. At each visit all patients were re-examined clinically for evaluating the response rate and it was determined by measuring the indurations as below: 1. Complete improvement (full re-epithelialization of the lesions and a negative direct smear result) 2. Significant improvement: decrease in the indurations size >75% 3. Partial improvement: decrease in the indurations size between 50%-75% 4. Slight improvement: decrease in the indurations size between 25%-50% 5. No improvement: decrease in the indurations size<25%. The study end points were complete healing of skin lesion or withdrawal from the study.

Research Council of Mashad University of Medical Sciences