The role of interferon-gamma in the treatment of visceral and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Traditionally, the mainstay of visceral and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis therapy has been pentavalent antimony, with pentamidine and amphotericin B reserved for refractory cases. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in combination with pentavalent antimony has been used successfully in treating patients refractory to pentavalent antimony and in patients with previously untreated visceral leishmaniasis (39 total). In addition, 6 patients with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis have been treated with combination IFN-gamma and antimony therapy. Preliminary experience with these patients indicates that IFN-gamma is a useful adjunct therapy for severe or refractory cases of visceral leishmaniasis; however, the potential of IFN-gamma in treating diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis cannot be assessed as current clinical experience is too limited.

publication date

  • March 1, 1993

Research

keywords

  • Interferon-gamma
  • Leishmaniasis, Diffuse Cutaneous
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0027535826

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/infdis/167.supplement_1.s13

PubMed ID

  • 8433014

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 167 Suppl 1