Louis Weinrauch

Topical treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major: A double-blind control study

BACKGROUND A controlled study of the efficacy of topical paromomycin sulfate (PR) and methylbenzethonium chloride (MBCl) in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has not yet been performed. OBJECTIVE The therapeutic effect of an ointment containing 15% PR and either 12% or 5% MBCl (15/12 or 15/5 P-ointment) on patients suffering from Old World CL was examined in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. METHODS Thirty-nine patients with Old World CL caused by Leishmania major were treated topically, twice daily, for 10 to 20 days with 15/12 or 15/5 P-ointment and 10 to 20 days with a placebo ointment to achieve a total of 30 days of treatment in all groups. RESULTS In the P-ointment-treated groups, 74.2% (29 of 39 patients) of the patients were cured versus 26.6% (4 of 15 patients) in the placebo-treated group. Little difference was found between the 15/12 and 15/5 P-ointment groups. CONCLUSION In most of the patients treated with the active ingredients, total elimination of the parasites was achieved within the first 10 days of treatment.

Penicillin-induced generalized pustular psoriasis†

We describe a case of penicillin and penicillin-related drugs that induced severe generalized pustular psoriasis on several different occasions in a young patient known to have suffered from recalcitrant psoriasis since childhood.

Rifampicin Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT: In a small‐scale preliminary trial of oral rifampicin treatment was considered successful in six out of eight cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and probably effective in a seventh. The in vitro effect of rifampicin on leishmania organisms concerns inhibition of mitochondrial function or replication. The need for protozoological control in the assessment of treatment is stressed.

Topical treatment of New World cutaneous leishmaniasis in Belize: A clinical study

BACKGROUND Many studies have been performed during the past decade to find an effective topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of paromomycin ointment (P-ointment) containing 15% paromomycin sulfate and 12% methylbenzethonium chloride on Belizean patients with New World CL. METHODS Fifty-three patients were treated twice daily for 14 to 21 days with P-ointment. RESULTS Sixty-eight percent of the patients healed, 6% had a delayed cure, and 26% did not respond. No toxic effects from the ointment were observed. CONCLUSION Topical paromomycin is as efficacious in the treatment of New World CL as other currently accepted modalities that are potentially more toxic.

Efficacy of Rifampicin and Isoniazid in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT: Thirty‐nine patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major were treated with rifampicin alone or in combination with isoniazid. No significant difference was found between these two therapeutic regimens, and about half of the patients were cured 2 months from the beginning of treatment. A review of rifampicin in cutaneous leishmaniasis is attached.

Protozoa and Helminths: “The Gay Bowel Syndrome”

Sexual transmission of protozoal and helminthic diseases by orogenital or oroanal routes has become increasingly common during the last two decades, especially in young men. The outbreak of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and the medical and public campaign against it, seem to be changing sexual habits. Lately there has been a drop in the incidence of sexually transmitted enteric diseases.