The Efficacy of Carbon Dioxide Laser in the Treatment of Chronic and Lupoid Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Kerman City: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background & Aims: Lupoid (LL) and chronic leishmaniais (CCL) are variants of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) which are resistant to various treatments. The diseases are endemic in some developing countries such as Iran. A Variety of drugs with different effects have been suggested in recent decades. Carbon deoxide laser has been recently applied in the treatment of different dermatological diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of CO۲ laser compared to systemic Glucantime plus Allopurionl in the treatment of LL and CCL. Methods: A total of ۵۰ patients with ۸۶ LL or CCL lesions were participated in this study. They were divided into the two groups; the first group was treated with CO۲ laser for one session and the second group wastreated with Glucantime (۵۰ mg/kg IM for ۲۱ days) plus Allopurionl (۲۰mg/kg for ۳۰ days). All patients were followed at weeks ۴th, ۸th, ۴۸th and ۷۲nd and the results were compared. Results: At week ۴, the cure rate of complete improvement of two treatment groups was not statistically different (P=۰.۶۰۹). By week ۸, the cure rate slightly decreased (P=۰.۴۱۷). The decreasing trend continued until weeks ۴۸th and ۷۲nd (P=۰.۲۸۹ and P=۰.۰۹۵, respectively). Finally, ۱۶ patients of laser group and ۲۲ patients of the other group were cured, but statistically no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P=۰.۰۹۵). Conclusions: Carbon deoxide laser therapy could be used in patients with hypersensitivity to pentavalent antimoniate or those with serious systemic diseases

کلیدواژه ها:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis ، Carbon Deoxide laser ، meglumine antimoniate