An open label, comparative study to compare the efficacy of thermotherapy to meglumine antimoniate in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in an operational context was carried out in Chaparral, Colombia. After enrollment patients were followed-up for up to 100 days. Per protocol and intention-to-treat cure rates for 47 patients treated using thermotherapy (one-time 50 degrees C applications for 30s) were 100 and 19%, respectively. Per protocol and intention-to-treat cure rates for meglumine antimoniate (20 mg/kg body weight administered intramuscularly for 21 d) were 78 and 23%, respectively.
SummaryWe calculated ranges for the cost per disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment during an ongoing epidemic of CL in Chaparral, Colombia. Using operational clinical and cost data, we calculated that the cost of treating leishmaniasis patients with standard pentavalent antimony was US$345 (95% CI 277-488) per patient treated and cured. The cost per DALY averted per patient cured with antimony was estimated to be approximately US$15 000 (95% CI 12 226-21 532).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.