ABSTRACT
We assessed the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 5 patients. Delta-aminolevulinic acid in a water-in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesions and irradiation was performed. The treatment was repeated once a week for a month. Each time, direct smears of the lesions were prepared and cultured in NNN media. In direct staining, smears showed no amastigotes after 1 or 2 sessions. Healing and cosmetic outcome after photodynamic therapy was excellent. Only mild local inflammatory reaction was noted with no scarring and 4 months after the last treatment session, there were no clinical signs of recurrence.
Subject(s)
Aminolevulinic Acid/therapeutic use , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/drug therapy , Photochemotherapy/methods , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Aminolevulinic Acid/adverse effects , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Monitoring , Humans , Hyperpigmentation/chemically induced , Inflammation/chemically induced , Iran , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/parasitology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/pathology , Parasitology , Photochemotherapy/adverse effects , Photosensitizing Agents/adverse effects , Recurrence , Treatment Outcome , Wound HealingABSTRACT
We assessed the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 5 patients. Delta-aminolevulinic acid in a water- in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesions and irradiation was performed. The treatment was repeated once a week for a month. Each time, direct smears of the lesions were prepared and cultured in NNN media. In direct staining, smears showed no amastigotes after 1 or 2 sessions. Healing and cosmetic outcome after photodynamic therapy was excellent. Only mild local inflammatory reaction was noted with no scarring and 4 months after the last treatment session, there were no clinical signs of recurrence
