Aims of the study: First, to describe liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome use as first line treatment of pediatric visceral leishmaniasis and secondly, to evaluate the incidence of the disease in southern France (Provence - Alpes - Côte d'Azur - Corse).
Material and methods: Retrospective chart review of children referred for visceral leishmaniasis from 1996 to 2003.
Results: Thirty-two children under 15 years of age and suffering from visceral leishmaniasis were treated with liposomal amphotericin B as first line treatment. Clinical and biological features were usual: age <5 years, no immunodeficiency, spleen enlargement and fever, cytopenia. In this population, treatment effectiveness was evaluated to 97% (one relapse). Under treatment, patients quickly improved. Drug regimens varied from 18 to 24 mg/kg (day 1 to 5, and day 10). Four other children were not treated with first-line liposomal amphotericin B during the period. Thus, the incidence of pediatric visceral leishmaniasis was evaluated to be 0.61/100,000 children <15 years/year in the region (2.74 in the Alpes-Maritimes department, French Riviera, and 0.6 in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, Marseilles area).
Conclusion: Liposomal amphotericin B treatment is usual for children referred for visceral leishmaniasis in this region. This treatment may be approved regarding the high level of effectiveness and the low number of adverse events. A two days drug regimen with 20 mg/kg should be evaluated. Moreover, the incidence of the pediatric visceral leishmaniasis in southern France is decreasing, but local variations may be observed.