A single high dose treatment of kala-azar with Ambisome (amphotericin B lipid complex): a pilot study

Thirty four patients with parasitologically confirmed visceral leishmaniasis were divided randomly into two groups of 17. Group A received Ambisome (amphotericin B lipid complex) at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight infused over 2 h as a single dose; patients in group B received amphotericin B deoxycholate at a dose of 1 mg/kg body infused for 2 h for 20 days. All 34 patients had a clinical, parasitological and ultimate cure. Ambisome was much better tolerated than amphotericin B, and adverse events were fewer in the Ambisome group. It was concluded that, if the cost of Ambisome were reduced, it would be a suitable first line drug. A longer study comparing three regimes of Ambisome: 15 mg/kg body weight, 11 mg/kg body weight and 7.5 mg/kg body weight, should be undertaken. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.