Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis by topical 25% podophyllin solution (single, blinded, therapeutic, controlled study)

Background: There are many therapies that had been used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical 25% podophyllin solution in treatment of CL. Patients and methods: Sixty-five patients with acute CL enrolled in this study, which was done in the Department of Dermatology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, during January 2008–April 2009.The total number of lesions was 124 and duration of lesions ranged from 3 to 12(6.84 ± 2.902) weeks. The size of lesions ranged from 0.5 to 3(1.75 ± 1.81) cm. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and smear. Lesions were divided into two groups with matching of type and size of lesions Group A treated with topical 25% podophyllin solution once weekly for number of sessions ranged from 3 to 6(4.51 ± 0.85) sessions. Group B was left untreated as a control group. Follow up was every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. Results: The total number of lesions was 120:79(65.84%) were ulcerated and 41(34.16%) were dry and 25(40.32%) patients had single lesion while 37(59.677%) patients had multiple lesions. Group A: 51(85%) lesions out of 60 lesions had cure with number of sessions ranging from 3 to 6(5.137 ± 0.9385) sessions. Group B: no lesion was cured. Conclusions: Topical 25% podophyllin is a new effective topical therapy for CL, with few side effects.