RELAPSE IN ETHIOPIAN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS (VL) PATIENTS AFTER THERAPY WITH PENTAVALENT ANTIMONIALS - A 10-YEAR OBSERVATION

Relapse after chemotherapy using the pentavalent antimonials, sodium s tibogluconate and meglumine antimoniate, was assessed in 135 patients diagnosed in the Aba Roba focus of south western Ethiopia during the p eriod 1982-1991. Ten cases relapsed with a mean of 15.6 +/- 16.3 month s following treatment. A 15-day course of 10 mg Sb-v/kg b.wt. sodium s tibogluconate used in 1982/1983 had a better outcome than a 15-day cou rse of 17 mg Sb-v/kg b.wt. of meglumine antimoniate used in 1990/1991. The relapse rate among patients treated with sodium stibogluconate 16 -20 mg Sb-v/kg b.wt. for 20 days in 1985-1990 was comparable to the re lapse rate in patients treated with meglumine antimoniate 16-20 mg Sb- v/kg b.wt. for 20 days in 1990/1991. Findings are discussed.