VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS SUCCESSFULLY TREAT ED WITH A HIGH-DOSE OF AMPHOTERICIN-B IN A LIPIDIC EMULSION

A case of visceral leishmaniasis successfully treated with a high dail y dose of amphotericin B diluted in lipidic emulsion is presented in t his study. The diagnosis was assessed through bone marrow aspiration, in a 29 year-old woman, presenting pancytopenia. Amphotericin B treatm ent was started at a daily dose of 1 mg/kg on day 1, and continued at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d for 7 days. The patient improved very rapidly. Fou rteen months later, the patient was cured. Side effects were a grade 2 fever at onset of treatment , and a moderate increase in transaminase s. Serum creatinine did not go beyond the maximum normal value althoug h creatine clearance decreased slightly. This new treatment should be further evaluated as it could lead to a shorter duration of hospitalis ation, for low cost.