Received: August 28, 2006.

Accepted: April 4, 2007.

Abstract published online: April 5, 2007.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2007.

INEFFICACY OF THE ASSOCIATION N-METHYL GLUCAMINE AND TOPICAL MILTEFOSINE IN THE TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS BY Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

SAMPAIO R. N. R. (1), LUCAS I. C. (1), TAKAMI H. L. (1)

(1) Laboratory of Dermatomycology, University of Brasília, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Pentavalent antimonial (SbV) is the first treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Other drugs present similar side effects and higher cost. Oral miltefosine is effective to treat kala-azar. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of glucamine (SbV) plus topical miltefosine with glucamine in the treatment of CL. Eighty isogenic C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and divided into two groups: one group was treated with SbV associated with miltefosine, and the other group received SbV plus saline solution. Groups were evaluated according to the diameter of the inoculated foot pad, the culture, and the parasite count using the limiting dilution assay. There was not statistical difference. The efficacy of glucamine in CL treatment did not increase when associated with topical miltefosine.

KEY WORDS: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Miltefosine, N-methyl glucamine.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

RAIMUNDA NONATA RIBEIRO SAMPAIO, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília, 70910-900, DF, Brasil. Phone: +55 61 307 2502. Fax: +55 61 367 3825. Email: rsampaio@unb.br.