Evaluación del uso del antimoniato de meglumine en leishmaniasis cutánea en niños

Introducción: En el tratamiento de la leishmaniasis tegumentaria, los antimoniales pentavalentes representan la principal opción terapéutica, ya que pueden ser utilizados en diversos esquemas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la respuesta terapéutica y complicaciones del antimoniato de meglumine a dosis de 70 mg/kg/día en una serie de 10 días. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el cual se evaluó la evolución clínica y factores pronósticos de la respuesta al tratamiento con antimoniato de meglumine a la dosis de 70 mg/kg/día en los niños con diagnóstico de leishmaniasis tegumentaria americana que fueron ingresados entre los años 2003 y 2013 en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 47 pacientes, 53,1 % del sexo femenino; la edad media fue de 5,8 años (SD +3,3); el 70,2 % provenía del estado Miranda. Al evaluar el estado nutricional, el 73,9 % fueron eutróficos. La manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes fueron úlceras en 97,8 % de los pacientes, localizadas mayormente en miembros inferiores (47 5) y superiores (33 %). El 50 % recibió antimoniato de meglumine durante 10 días, el 45,6 % ameritó 2 series y el 4,3 % 3 series. Ningún paciente presentó efectos secundarios por el tratamiento con el meglumine. Al evaluar los factores que condicionan la administración de más de una serie se observó que ser eutróficos fue un factor protector con un OR= 0,13 Conclusión: El tratamiento de la leishmaniasis cutánea a la dosis de 70mg/kg/día demostró ser efectivo y seguro en pacientes pediátricos.

Introduction: Pentavalent antimonials are considered the main therapeutic option as treatment of leishmaniasis because they may be used in different therapeutic regimens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic response to meglumine antimoniate at doses of 70 mg/kg/day during 10 days. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study; in which we evaluated the clinical course and prognostic factors for the response to treatment with meglumine antimoniate at doses of 70 mg/kg/day; was conducted in children with diagnosis of american cutaneous leishmaniasis, admitted between 2003 and 2013 at the University Hospital of Caracas. Results: Forty seven patients, 53.1 % female, were included. The mean age was 5.8 years (SD + 3,3); 70.2 % of cases came from Miranda state. In assessing the nutritional status, 73.9.% were eutrophic. The most common clinical manifestations were ulcers (97.8 %), located mostly in the lower (47 5) and upper (33 %) extremities. 50 % of patients received a serie of meglumine antimoniate for 10 days, 45.6 % required two series and 4.3 % of them, 3 series. No patient had side effects from treatment with meglumine. In evaluating the factors affecting the need of more than one series of treatment, the eutrophic state was a protective factor with OR = 0.13. Conclusion: Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis at doses of 70mg/kg/ day was effective and safe to pediatric patients

Malaria seroprevalence in blood bank donors from endemic and non-endemic areas of Venezuela.

In Venezuela, a total of 363,466 malaria cases were reported between 1999-2009. Several states are experiencing malaria epidemics, increasing the risk of vector and possibly transfusion transmission. We investigated the risk of transfusion transmission in blood banks from endemic and non-endemic areas of Venezuela by examining blood donations for evidence of malaria infection. For this, commercial kits were used to detect both malaria-specific antibodies (all species) and malaria antigen (Plasmodium falciparum only) in samples from Venezuelan blood donors (n = 762). All samples were further studied by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antibody results showed that P. falciparum-infected patients had a lower sample/cut-off ratio than Plasmodium vivax-infected patients. Conversely, a higher ratio for antigen was observed among all P. falciparum-infected individuals. Sensitivity and specificity were higher for malarial antigens (100 and 99.8%) than for antibodies (82.2 and 97.4%). Antibody-positive donors were observed in Caracas, Ciudad Bolívar, Puerto Ayacucho and Cumaná, with prevalences of 1.02, 1.60, 3.23 and 3.63%, respectively. No PCR-positive samples were observed among the donors. However, our results show significant levels of seropositivity in blood donors, suggesting that more effective measures are required to ensure that transfusion transmission does not occur.

Malaria seroprevalence in blood bank donors from endemic and non-endemic areas of Venezuela

In Venezuela, a total of 363,466 malaria cases were reported between 1999-2009. Several states are experiencing malaria epidemics, increasing the risk of vector and possibly transfusion transmission. We investigated the risk of transfusion transmission in blood banks from endemic and non-endemic areas of Venezuela by examining blood donations for evidence of malaria infection. For this, commercial kits were used to detect both malaria-specific antibodies (all species) and malaria antigen (Plasmodium falciparum only) in samples from Venezuelan blood donors (n = 762). All samples were further studied by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antibody results showed that P. falciparum-infected patients had a lower sample/cut-off ratio than Plasmodium vivax-infected patients. Conversely, a higher ratio for antigen was observed among all P. falciparum-infected individuals. Sensitivity and specificity were higher for malarial antigens (100 and 99.8 percent) than for antibodies (82.2 and 97.4 percent). Antibody-positive donors were observed in Caracas, Ciudad Bolívar, Puerto Ayacucho and Cumaná, with prevalences of 1.02, 1.60, 3.23 and 3.63 percent, respectively. No PCR-positive samples were observed among the donors. However, our results show significant levels of seropositivity in blood donors, suggesting that more effective measures are required to ensure that transfusion transmission does not occur.