0000000000682202
AUTHOR
Lucio Di Martino
A 6 day course of liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of infantile visceral leishmaniasis: the Italian experience
Objectives To evaluate in a retrospective analysis the efficacy and safety of a 6 day course of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) in infantile cases of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (VL) diagnosed over a 10 year period in Italy. Patients and methods Patients included were diagnosed as having VL consecutively admitted from December 1992 to December 2001 at four main referral children's hospitals in Italy and treated with six intravenous doses of 3 mg/kg L-AmB given on days 1-5 and 10 (a total dose of 18 mg/kg). Demographic data, nutritional status, underlying diseases, clinical and laboratory findings, and therapy outcome were considered. Results A total of 164 HIV-negative children (m…
EARLY EFFICACY OF LIPOSOMAL AMPHOTERICIN B IN THE TREATMENT OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS
The rapidity and efficacy of a short course of liposomal amphotericin B was evaluated in 29 children affected by visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum). Their overall health status was assessed using the prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI), and their haematological status by the reticulocyte count and haemoglobin blood levels. All these quantities were measured on day 0, and 3 and 10 d after starting therapy. A significant decrease of inflammatory signs, associated with an improved reticulocyte count, was recorded after 3 d of therapy. A significant increase of haemoglobin levels was also observed 10 d after the start of treatment. The early reduction of inflammatory …
Efficacy and safety of clarithromycin as treatment for Mediterranean spotted fever in children: a randomized controlled trial
Fifty-one children with Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) were randomized to receive either clarithromycin, 15 mg/kg/ day orally in 2 divided doses, or chloramphenicol, 50 mg/ kg/day orally in 4 divided doses, for 7 days. Mean time to defervescence was 36.7 h in the clarithromycin group and 47.1 h in the chloramphenicol group (P = .047). Clarithromycin could be an acceptable therapeutic alternative to chloramphenicol and to tetracyclines for children aged <8 years with MSF.