RESUMEN
Present study was conducted to observe the therapeutic efficacy of allopurinol [Zyloric] to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis with the object of having a good alternate therapeutic agent of antimony compounds. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major tropical and subtropical parasitic disease to which antimony compounds injections are generally accepted treatment. This is expensive and not readily available in developing countries, besides serious side effects and devlopment of resistance. Allopurinol is an inexpensive, orally administered drug with less toxic and minimum side effects. This would be substantial advance in treatment. Previous studies in vitro have shown synergism between Allopurinol and antimony compounds [Martiniz and Marr, 1992]. We studied Allopurinol in a dose of 300 mg twice a day in 42 all adults, otherwise healthy patients for 14 days in two courses with a gap of 14 days in between. The cure response was 61% with mild side effects of pruritis in 4 patients, and nausea in 6 patients. The side effects were easily managed by 4mg of chlorpheniramine [Priton from Glaxo] and cyclizine [Marzine from - GSK] twice a day respectively. 8 patients who did not improve with Allopurinol, were given injections Glucantime [Antimony compound] intra-muscular for 14 days, among them 5 improved and 3 did not report back. This result however indicates superioriity of therapeutic efficacy of antimony compounds over allopurinol