Comparison of Use of Intralesional Artemether with Intralesional Meglumine Antimoniate in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

  • Sumaira Abdullah Senior Registrar, Dermatology Department, Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital
Keywords: Artemether, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Efficacy, Meglumine antimoniate, Safety

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of Intralesional Meglumine Antimoniate and Intralesional Artemether in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.
Patients and Methods: Total 168 patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis were assigned randomly and equally to intralesional meglumine antimoniate (group A) and intralesional artemether (group B). The study outcome was measured after 6 weeks of therapy and treatment was considered efficacious if the lesion reduced more than 75% from its baseline size. The side effects in terms of pain, redness and swelling at the site of injection, fever, hepatitis and renal impairment were also noted.
Results: Intralesional meglumine antimoniate achieved complete healing in 75 (89.3%) cases compared to 62 (73.8%) cases in intralesional artemether (p= 0.01).
Conclusion: Intralesional meglumine antimoniate is better than intralesional artemether in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Both drugs were found safe and no significant side effects were noted.

Published
2018-11-18
Section
Original Articles