Abstract

HERNANDEZ-FLORES, José de Jesús; MORALES-AGUIRRE, José Juan  and  ZAMORA-CHAVEZ, Antonio. Visceral leishmaniasis treated with amphotericin B. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2007, vol.64, n.1, pp.43-48. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in more than 82 countries with a risk population of more than 350 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates more than 12 million cases annually, with an annual incidence of more than 600 000 cases per year and 750 000 deaths. Case report. We present a case of visceral leishmaniasis treated with amphotericin B in the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez. The patient was a 16 month old male from the state of Guerrero, who was admitted to the hospital with history of fever, pancitopenia, and hepatosplenomegally. After ruling out neoplastic and other infectious and non infectious causes of organ infiltration, a positive Leishmania serology was reported. The bone marrow aspirate was examined but was reported negative for amastygotes. Based on the serology, a presumptive diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis was made. Treatment with amphotericin B, 1 mg/kg/day for 15 days resulted in significant clinical improvement. Conclusion. Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with amphotericin B instead of antimony is a good alternative, principally due to the high resistance reported in the treatment with antimonials.

Keywords : Leishmaniasis; visceral; kala-azar; amphotericin B; Leishmania.

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