اثر آزيترومايسين بر ليشمانيوز جلدي

Azithromycin in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health in Iran. Pentavalent antimonials are the first choice to treat leishmaniasis in most places where it is endemic. These drugs must be administered by parenteral route, for four weeks and are toxic .Attempts to find oral therapeutic options, ideally cheaper, with good tolerance and safe are highly desirable. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of azithromycin (AZ) for treatment of patients with CL in Khuzestan. Materials and methods: In a clinical trial study, 54 patients with CL were studied. Patient were divided randomly in 2 groups.28 patients in AZ group and 26 age, gender and clinically controlled matched patients in C group(without treatment). In AZ group patients were treated by oral AZ, 500 mg /day in single dose for 28 days. Patients were followed up in days 14, 28 and month 2 and5. Data were analyzed in SPSS (11.5, USA) by using chi square and/ or exact Fisherʹs test. Results: Mean age of studied subject was 20.26 ± 8.45years.Male to female ratio was 1.5:1.Half of the patients were living in the rural area. At the end of treatment 13patients (46.4%) and4 patients (15.4%) in the AZ and C groups, respectively, were cured (p=0.02).0ne relapse of CL was observed in AZ group, no serious drug side effects was observed. Conclusion: Azithromycin has an acceptable effect on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iranian patients and can be used alternatively in Khuzestan.