Cutaneous leishmaniasis associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoan disease caused by Leishmania spp. and is endemic in the Americas, the Mediterranean basin, Middle East, and Central Asia. There are reports regarding the co-infection of CL with other diseases, especially immune system disorders. Herein, we presented a patient with several leishmania lesions who suffered from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). He was a 22-year-old man from Fars province, southern Iran who was treated with corticosteroid drugs to control the manifestations of SLE. The presence of leishmanial bodies was confirmed by microscopic and molecular methods. Treatment was performed based on sodium antimony gluconate (1.5 mg/5ml) for three weeks, resulting in acceptable outcomes. However, recurrence of the lesions was observed after two months when the medication was discontinued. This was the first report of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in an SLE patient.