LETTER
Hippokratia 2015, 19(1):93
Doganis D1, Mavrikou M1, Tsolia M2
1First Department of Pediatrics 2Second Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University P. and A. Kyriakou Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Key words: Post, Kala-Azar, dermal, cutaneous, leishmaniasis, Greece
Corresponding author: Doganis Dimitrios, Thivon & Levadias Str, 11527 Athens, Greece, tel: +302107452211, Fax: +302132009104, e-mail: doganisd@gmail.com
Dear Editor,
Post–Kala Azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a chronic dermatosis. The geographical distribution of PKDL is restricted to certain regions such as the Indian subcontinent and East Africa, where Leishmania donovani is endemic, whereas this entity is almost unknown in Europe. We report the case of a patient who was successfully treated for PKDL, suggesting the emergence of such a rare complication of visceral leismaniasis (VL) in a non-endemic area.
A previously healthy 15-month-old Greek boy of Roma origin was diagnosed with VL, based on the identification of Leishmania bodies on microscopic examination of the specimen obtained by bone marrow aspiration. No travel history to any other country was reported. Treatment with Liposomal Amphotericin B was initiated for VL, but on the 7th day of treatment, the patient developed a papular and nodular rash, with few lesions in the face, trunk and extremities. He was afebrile, spleen was not palpable and no lymphadenopathy or mucous membrane involvement was observed. A second bone marrow aspiration, performed after the eruption of the rash, did not reveal any Leishmania amastigotes. Nevertheless, a biopsy from a skin nodule showed a cellular infiltration that consisted of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells, while parasites were also identified. Identification of the Leishmania species was unfortunately not attainable. Treatment with Liposomal Amphotericin B was continued, at a total dose of 30 mg/kg. After a few days, an improvement of the rash was noted and one month later it had completely healed. The child is in good health without any evidence of VL or PKDL relapse for more than 3 years of follow-up.
PKDL is characterized by a macular, maculopapular and nodular rash, which usually develops following the treatment of VL. Diagnosis is usually made clinically, especially in endemic areas, but a definitive diagnosis should be made upon demonstration of Leishmania bodies within macrophages. Although some cases may heal spontaneously, many patients require prolonged treatment1,2. The skin lesions usually develop after all signs and symptoms of VL have resolved, with a usual interval of 6-12 months or even decades later (Indian type) or soon after and sometimes during treatment (African type) as in our patient2. Agents as pentavalent antimonials and amphotericin B are the recommended medications with satisfactory cure rates, but sometimes the relapse rate rises up to 64% requiring long-term treatment1,3.
Consequently, certain questions arise: why do some parasites spread to skin during VL and survive there despite treatment, and, on the other hand, why PKDL is not a common manifestation in all VL cases? There is accumulating evidence, that (impaired) immune responses play a major role. The immune system seems to be more effective in killing parasites in patients who do not develop PKDL. It is unclear whether a different and more effective treatment of VL, such as Liposomal Amphotericin B, would prevent PKDL3 – the latter had not been proven in the patient reported.
References
1. Ramesh V, Singh R, Salotra P. Short communication: post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis–an appraisal. Trop Med Int Health. 2007; 12: 848-851.
2. mRamesh V, Ramam M, Singh R, Salotra P. Hypopigmented post-kala-azar dermalleishmaniasis. Int J Dermatol. 2008; 47: 414-416.
3. Zijlstra EE, Musa AM, Khalil EA, el-Hassan IM, el-Hassan AM. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2003; 3: 87-98.