Miltefosine in treatment of old world cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan

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

Narrow band ultraviolet - B radiation therapy in patients of vitiligo

To determine the efficacy of Narrow Band Ultra Violet B [NB-UVB] therapy to induce repigmentation in vitiligo patients with skin Fitzpatrick phototype IV. Descriptive study. Department of Dermatology, PNS Shifa Karachi, from April 2004 to October 2005. Thirty-five patients were included in the study during a period of eighteen months starting from 23rd April 2004. Each patient had thrice weekly exposure to NB-UVB therapy on nonconsecutive days for a maximum period of one year. Results were evaluated clinically and by comparing digital photographs taken before, during and at the completion of treatment. Improvement was objectively assessed by grading it into four groups depending on percentage of re-pigmentation in the affected areas. Out of the 35 patients, two dropped out and 33 completed the course of therapy successfully. The extent of vitiligo varied from 5% to 40% of body surface area. At the end of one year 9 [27.3%] patients had grade 4 recovery [> 75% repigmentation], 15 [45.4%] had grade 3 recovery [50-75% repigmentation] and the rest had grade 2 recovery [25-50% repigmentation]. No significant side effects were observed during the study period. Narrow-band UVB is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with Vitiligo