With the aim of comparing the therapeutic efficacy, tolerability and toxicity of meglumine antimoniate, aminosidine sulphate andpentamidine isethionate, a field study was conducted on randomized treatment of patients with primary cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (L(V)b), in Cone de Pedra, BA, from October 1992 up to January 1993- Forty six patients were treated and distributed into three groups, two with 15 and one with 16 subjects. All patients were submitted to clinical examination, histopatological and immunological investigations, as diagnostic criterium. All patients were treated by intramusculaiy route. Group 1 received pentamidine 4mg/kg/every 2 days, for 8 applications; Group 2 recieved aminosidine 20 mg/kg/day, for 20 days, and Group 3 recieveid meglumine lOmg Sln/kg/day, for 20 days. Failure of therapy was defined as ulceration of the skin lesion four months after treatment. Such failure occurred in five cases as follows: two cases in patients of group 1 one case in patients of group 2, and two cases in group 3, after the first year of follow up. In the evaluation after three years we rewied fifteen patients, five in each group; except for one in Group 3, all of them were cured. Statistical significance of the results beetween the three schedules used was not verified.
Treatment of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis; Pentavalent antimonials; Pentamidine Aminosidine