ABSTRACT
Immunosuppressive treatments for rheumatic diseases present special problems in areas endemic for chronic infectious diseases because of the possibility of reactivation. Leishmaniasis is a significant neglected tropical disease caused by different species of protozoan parasites within the genus Leishmania. Amastigotes live as intracellular parasites in a variety of mammalian cells, most notably within phagocytes such as macrophages, and residual parasites can persist even after treatment and healing of the lesions. We herein report a case of relapsing mucosal leishmaniasis after aggressive immunotherapy for ankylosing spondylitis, with requirement for secondary prophylaxis with amphotericin B to prevent reactivation. This approach can be necessary for patients from endemic areas of tegumentary leishmaniasis, who will undergo aggressive immunotherapy.
