ABSTRACT
To evaluate the efficacy of miltefosine in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis Uncontrolled, open label, quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Military Hospital Rawalpindi and five other Army Hospitals from Jan 2006 to Aug 2006. This study was dome to investigate the efficacy of treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with oral miltefosine in doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day at 6 centers in Pakistan. The study was conducted among 90 hospitalized adult cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. All patients completed the full 28-days treatment course. The study revealed excellent response in 32[28.8%], good in 38[34.4%], fair in 17[15.3%] and poor in 3[2.7%] patients. Treatment-related adverse events were transient rise in ALT [95%], followed by myalgia [33%], arthralgia [15%], nausea vomiting [12%], bad oral taste [2%], testicular pain [4%], cough [2%], conjunctivitis [2%] and fever [1%]. All theses side effects were transient and settled on discontinuation of medication. Compliance was good The use of oral miltefosine in doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day is effective and well tolerated in old world cutaneous leishmaniasis