Cutaneous Leishmaniasis from Belize-treatment with ketoconazole

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Eight patients suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis acquired in Belize were treated with 800 mg oral ketoconazole daily for 28 days. Four were infected with Leishmania mexicana mexicana and four with Leishmania braziliensis brazitiensis. On completion of therapy, all cases of Leishmania mexicana mexicana infection and one of Leishtaania braziliensis braziliensis infection showed significant clinical improvement. Clearance of infection was confirmed by the absence of amastigotes in post‐treatment biopsy specimens and negative post‐treatment cultures. The possibility of spontaneous clinical healing of these ulcers within such a short period of time is discussed but considered most unlikely. No side‐effects were observed during this study which suggests that ketoconazole might be a safe and effective form of therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania mexicana mexicana.