Efficacy of Radio-frequency Induced Heat (RFH)Therapy in Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in India

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2011-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Infections caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania include cutaneous (CL), mucosal (ML) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Over 12 million people currently suffer from leishmaniasis, and approximately 2 million new cases occur annually, making it a major global health problem. CL CL caused by Leishmania tropica is endemic around the city of Bikaner in Thar Desert region of the State of Rajasthan . WHO recommends antimonials such as sodium stibogluconate (SSG) to treat CL. However, these drugs are toxic and have poor patient compliance as they require multiple intramuscular or intralesional injections for 3 weeks. In addition, the emergence of drug-resistant strains is rapidly increasing worldwide. We are interested in novel treatments for CL that are safe, easy to administer and effective in inducing long-term cure. Recently, radio-frequency-induced heat (RFH) therapy has been used to treat CL. This treatment involves the controlled and localized delivery of radiofrequencies into lesions for 30-60 seconds under local anesthesia. Several short-term follow-up (4-5 months) studies as well as one long-term follow-up (12 months) study involving US soldiers who were infected with L. major in Iraq found that RFH therapy was comparable, or even better, than systemic antimonials. However, more studies are needed to establish long-term efficacy of RFH therapy in treatment of CL caused by other Leishmania species that are difficult to treat with conventional drugs, and to determine the risk of disease recurrence if any in patients living in Leishmania endemic regions. The goal of this trial is to compare long term efficacy of RFH therapy in treatment of CL caused by L. tropica in patients residing in Leishmania-endemic regions of India.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Sarder Patel Medical College
• Collaborator: Ohio State University
• Treatments: Antimony Sodium Gluconate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• parasitologically confirmed diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Multiple lesions (more than 4)