A comparative study of oral zinc sulfate as a treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in Iraq

Abstract AR

Objectives : To our knowledge, this is the first comparative clinical study to determine the efficacy of oral zinc sulfate as a new therapy for visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Methods: Eighty-one cases of VL diagnosed clinically and confirmed by serologic and/or histopathological tests fulfilled the required period of drug employment (1-3 wks).

They were randomly assigned to receive either parenteral sodium stibogluconate (SSG) in its recommended dose or oral zinc sulfate (20 mg/kg/day up to 200 mg/day divided into 3 equal doses).

Both specific and non-specific signs of (VL) infection were recorded initially and followed up weekly.

Patients were monitored for the drug side effects.

Results : Zinc sulfate-induced improvement in fever, organomegaly, and weight loss was comparable (p>0.05) to that induced by SSG.

Such improvement was consistent in all therapy subgroups, i.e., whether for 1, 2, or 3 weeks; moreover, splenomegaly improved more (0.01

Based on the overall response of each patient individually, the following results were obtained.

One-week therapy: 16/20 (80%) patients apparently responded to zinc sulfate vs.

13/22 (59%) of patients who received SSG.

Two-week therapy: 10/12 (83.3%) patients apparently responded to zinc sulfate vs.

8/14 (57.1%) patients who received SSG.

Three-week therapy: 6/6 (100%) patients were cured clinically in the zinc sulfate group vs.

6/7(85.7%) patients who received SSG.

Conclusion: Oral zinc sulfate (20mg/kg/day up to 200 mg/day as a maximum divided into 3 equal doses for 3 weeks) represents a promising, effective, tolerable, safe, and new treatment for VL in Iraq.