Fluconazole for the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

To the Editor: Alrajhi et al. (March 21 issue) 1 report on the efficacy of systemic fluconazole for Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major . Although this therapy was more efficacious than placebo, the rationale for the study is questionable. Because of potential side effects a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 347; no. 5; pp. 370 - 371
Main Authors Zvulunov, Alex, Klaus, Sidney, Vardy, Daniel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 01.08.2002
Subjects
Administration, Topical
Animals
Antifungal Agents - economics
Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use
Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage
Fluconazole - economics
Fluconazole - therapeutic use
Humans
Leishmania major
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - drug therapy
Paromomycin - administration & dosage
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Summary:To the Editor: Alrajhi et al. (March 21 issue) 1 report on the efficacy of systemic fluconazole for Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major . Although this therapy was more efficacious than placebo, the rationale for the study is questionable. Because of potential side effects and high costs, it is unlikely that any systemic therapy will ever become the first-choice therapy for uncomplicated Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis, which is a self-limited skin disease that is usually amenable to topical treatments. Moreover, the cost of six weeks of treatment with fluconazole at a dose of 200 mg per day is . . .
Bibliography:SourceType-Other Sources-1
content type line 63
ObjectType-Correspondence-1
ObjectType-Commentary-2
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJM200208013470517