Amphotericin B--fat emulsion in treatment of visceral leishmaniasis--a cost effective substitute for liposomal amphotericin B.

In spite of high dosage and prolonged treatment schedule of sodium antimony gluconate, unresponsiveness and relapse ranging from 25 to 40% has been reported. The cure rate of 90 to 92.9% with amphotericin B-fat emulsion is comparable to that with liposomal amphotericin B (80 to 100%). Due to high cost liposomal amphotericin B is beyond the reach of most of the Indian patients, whereas the cost of treatment with amphotericin B-fat emulsion is quite affordable. Further large scale studies with amphotericin B-fat emulsion are required to evaluate its effectiveness in Indian kala-azar patients and to establish its optimal dose.