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Minerva Medica 2001 August;92(4):245-50

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis

Foti G.

Aim of this report is to review the most important therapeutical choices in visceral leishmaniasis. The pentavalent antimonial derivatives (PAD) remain the first-line drugs despite the toxicity and the wide resistance. Among the other therapeutical options, the importance of lipid formulations of amphotericin B is emphasized; it is a valid resource for the treatment of leishmania-HIV co-infection in the European Mediterranean Countries; instead, due to the high cost, it cannot be proposed in developing Countries. Besides, the characteristics of other drugs are evaluated: pentamidine, aminosidine, miltefosine, allopurinol, ketoconazole, gamma-interferon; such options propose different validity in different geographical regions. Among these, interesting results are reported for miltefosine, both for efficacy and practicality of use. Finally, the importance of a vaccination strategy in endemic areas of developing Countries is underlined.