Comparison of Intralesional Glucantime With and Without Fractional CO₂ Laser in Adults With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Summary

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common parasitic skin disease causing chronic ulcerative lesions and scarring. Intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) is a widely used treatment; however, healing may be prolonged and cosmetic outcomes may be suboptimal. Fractional CO₂ laser therapy may enhance drug penetration, accelerate healing, and improve cosmetic results. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the healing outcomes of intralesional Glucantime alone versus intralesional Glucantime combined with fractional CO₂ laser therapy in adult patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis treated at CMH Peshawar. A total of 150 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio and followed for assessment of clinical healing, lesion size reduction, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse events.

Timeline

Start

2026-08-01

Primary completion

2027-02-28

Completion

2027-06-30

Publications

• Results AlGhamdi K, Khurrum H. Successful treatment of atrophic facial leishmaniasis scars by co2 fractional laser. J Cutan Med Surg. 2014 Nov;18(6):379-84. doi: 10.2310/7750.2014.13175.
• Results Shamsi Meymandi S, Zandi S, Aghaie H, Heshmatkhah A. Efficacy of CO(2) laser for treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, compared with combination of cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 May;25(5):587-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03781.x.
• Results Sigler A, Wu J, Pfaff A, Adetunji O, Nam P, James D, Burton C, Shi H. Repeated Low-Level Blast Exposure Alters Urinary and Serum Metabolites. Metabolites. 2023 May 8;13(5):638. doi: 10.3390/metabo13050638.
• Results Artzi O, Sprecher E, Koren A, Mehrabi JN, Katz O, Hilerowich Y. Fractional Ablative CO2 Laser Followed by Topical Application of Sodium Stibogluconate for Treatment of Active Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2019 Jan 1;99(1):53-57. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3058.
• Results Jaffary F, Nilforoushzadeh MA, Siadat A, Haftbaradaran E, Ansari N, Ahmadi E. A Comparison between the Effects of Glucantime, Topical Trichloroacetic Acid 50% plus Glucantime, and Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser plus Glucantime on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Lesions. Dermatol Res Pract. 2016;2016:6462804. doi: 10.1155/2016/6462804. Epub 2016 Apr 11.
• Results Asilian A, Sharif A, Faghihi G, Enshaeieh Sh, Shariati F, Siadat AH. Evaluation of CO laser efficacy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Int J Dermatol. 2004 Oct;43(10):736-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02349.x.

Drugs

Indications