Comparison of Oral Zinc Sulfate with Systemic Meglumine Antimoniate in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate comparison between oral zinc sulfate and meglumine antimoniate in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). So 100 patients with CL were included and randomly divided into two groups. The first group was treated with oral zinc sulfate (10 mg/kg/day during 45 days period), and the second group was treated with systemic meglumine antimoniate (20 mg/kg/day intramuscularly for 20 days). Acceptable cure after completing 45 days of followup occurred in 30.2% of lesions in first group, while this was 35.5% for the second group. There is not any significant difference between the two treatment groups (P = 0.42). Serious side effects resulting in treatment discounting occurred in only meglumine antimoniate group. Although cure rate of systemic meglumine antimoniate group was better the treatment with zinc sulfate is much easier, cheaper, more convenient in consumption, safer, and nearly close cure percentage to systemic meglumine antimoniate injections without serious side effect.

Eligibility criteria and outcome measures adopted in clinical trials of treatments of cutaneous leishmaniasis: systematic literature review covering the period 1991–2015

“…Sex was considered an inclusion criterion in 94.3% ( n = 100) of studies enrolling 11 081 patients; 87.7% ( n = 93) enrolled participants of both sexes , seven studies (6.6%) enrolled only men ; in five studies (4.7%), although sex was not specified in the inclusion criteria, inclusions can be derived from the results , and one study did not refer to the sex of the participants (Table ). For pregnancy and lactation, see Exclusion criteria below (Table ).…”

Parasite Sensing of Host Nutrients and Environmental Cues

“…Such alterations may be associated with the inability of the host to kill the parasites (Van Weyenbergh et al, 2004). However, zinc supplementation in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients has been contradictory (Prasad, 2014;Sharquie et al, 2001;Yazdanpanah et al, 2011). Zinc is a transition metal that is essential for both the host and the parasite but can quickly become toxic at high concentrations.…”

Metal-Based Therapeutics for Leishmaniasis

“…However at the moment zinc sulphate therapeutic effects should be confirmed by a greater sample volume. [34] Nevertheless, reported studies suggest that antileishmanial effect of zinc may result, partially or entirely, from inhibition of enzymes that are necessary for the parasites' carbohydrate metabolism and virulence. [35]…”