Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan found in
Brazil. It is characterized by fever, pallor, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy,
and progressive weakness in the patient. It may lead to death if untreated. The drug
of choice for treatment is meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®). The aim of
this study was to evaluate patients with visceral leishmaniasis according to criteria
used for diagnosis, possible reactions to Glucantime® and blood pressure
measured before and after treatment.
Methods: 89 patients admitted to the Teaching Hospital Dr. Hélvio Auto
(HEHA) in Maceió-AL, in the period from May 2006 to December 2009 were evaluated.
Data were collected on age, sex, origin, method of diagnosis, adverse effects of
drugs, duration of hospitalization, duration of treatment and dosage up to the onset
of adverse effects.
Results: There was a predominance of child male patients, aged between
one and five years old, from the interior of the State of Alagoas. Parasitological
diagnosis was made by bone marrow aspirate; three (3.37%) patients died, 12 (13.48%)
had adverse reactions and treatment was changed to amphotericin B, and 74 (83.14%)
were cured. Changes that led to replacing Glucantime® were persistent
fever, jaundice, rash, bleeding and cyanosis.
Conclusion: During the study, 89 patients hospitalized for VL were
analyzed: 74 were healed, 12 were replaced by amphotericin B treatment and three
died. Most of them were under five years old, male and came from the interior. The
dosage and duration of treatment with Glucantime® were consistent with
that advocated by the Ministry of Health. Persistence of fever, jaundice, rash,
cyanosis and bleeding were the reactions that led the physician to modify treatment.
No change was observed in blood pressure before and after treatment. This study
demonstrated the work of a hospital, a reference in the treatment of leishmaniasis,
which has many patients demanding its services in this area. It demonstrates that
this disease is still important today, and needs to be addressed properly to prevent
injury and death due to the disease.