High-Dose Oral Fluconazole Therapy Effective for Cutaneous

We report for the first time the successful use of flucona-zole to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis. We used escalating doses from 5 to 8 mg/kg per day. At a dose of 5 mg/kg per day, 75 % patients were cured, and at 8 mg/kg per day, the cure rate was 100%. Fluconazole was well tolerated. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem in Brazil. Cases are reported from every state, and there are a total of 25 000 new cases each year [1]. In Ceará, in north-eastern Brazil, which is one of the most heavily affected states, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis has been the only species identified from patients with CL in the past 20 years [2, 3]. The majority of cases occur in rural areas that are distant from medical facilities, which makes early diagnosis and treatment difficult. L. braziliensis is responsible for mucosal disease as well