Treating pediatric cutaneous Leishmania tropica with systemic liposomal amphotericin B: A retrospective, single-center study

Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is associated with high morbidity and low response rate to therapy, especially in pediatric patients. Intravenous (IV) liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) has been used off-label as a treatment for L. tropica CL for many years. However, data regarding its efficacy and safety in children is lacking. In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IV LAmB for treating pediatric patients with L. tropica, we retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of 24 children who were diagnosed with L. tropica CL and treated with IV LAmB during 2014-2020, at a tertiary medical center in Israel. Fourteen (58%) completed the treatment protocol and 10 (42%) experienced an infusion-related adverse event (IRAE) leading to treatment termination. Complete response was noted in 6/14 (43%) patients, while 8/14 (57%) failed to respond. Lower response rate was noted in lesions involving the mid-facial area. The relatively low response rate is speculated to result from a low dose of LAmB, short follow-up period, and difficult to treat anatomic locations. The observation of a lower response rate for mid-facial lesions should be validated in larger cohorts. The highrisk of IRAE should be considered in physician decisions regarding this treatment.

Automated summary

The use of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B therapy for Leishmania tropica cutaneous leishmaniasis in pediatric patients showed low treatment efficacy and a high risk of infusion-related adverse events. Further validation is needed to confirm the observed lower response rate for mid-facial lesions.