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- The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 81, Issue 6, 1 Dec 2009, p. 1004 - 1006
f Contribution of Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction to Follow-Up of Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients Treated with Meglumine Antimoniate
Abstract
Forty-two patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Tunisia were treated with meglumine antimoniate and followed-up for clinical improvement and blood parasite load determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Parasite loads before treatment ranged from 27 to 5.3 × 107 parasites/mL. At the end of treatment, parasite load decreased significantly in 39 cured patients (P < 0.001). The decrease in parasite load after treatment was greater than 99% for 34 patients and PCR results became negative in 23 of them. Two patients without clinical improvement showed no or slight decreases in parasite load (209 versus 202 parasites/mL and 1,765 versus 146 parasites/mL). One patient showed had a relapse seven months after showing a good response to treatment. His parasitemia remained high despite a sharp decrease (5.2 × 105 versus 5.9 × 103 parasites/mL).
- 26 May 2009
- 25 Aug 2009