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Potential role of zinc in the visceromegaly regression and recovery of hematological parameters during treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children from an endemic area

2018; UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO; Volume: 60; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/s1678-9946201860050

1678-9946

Débora Cardozo Bonfim Carbone, Lourdes Zélia Garcia Zanoni, Fernanda Zanoni Cônsolo, Simone Camargo Sanches, Vanessa Reis, Karla de Toledo Cândido Müller, Cristiano Marcelo Espínola Carvalho, Maria Cláudia Silva,

Research on Leishmaniasis Studies

Leishmaniasis is a disease complex with various clinical symptoms caused by different species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The visceral form of the disease, characterized by severe symptoms is fatal, if not treated. The high toxicity of current antileishmanial drugs and the need for long-term treatment make the therapy complicated, especially in a large number of infected children. Hence, the search for new therapies must be intensified. Oral administration of the trace element zinc has been considered in alternative treatments against different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. This study revealed that the administration of zinc in children with visceral leishmaniasis, during treatment with amphotericin B or glucantime, accelerates the regression of the spleen enlargement without interfering with the recovery of hematological parameters.