Comparison of lesion improvement in lupoid leishmaniasis patients with two treatment approaches: trichloroacetic Acid and intralesional meglumine antimoniate.

Background: There are several therapies for treating lupoid leishmaniasis. We compared the effectiveness of intralesional meglumine antimoniate (MA) and topical application of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 50% solution.

Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial comprising 60 lupoid leishmaniasis patients. The first group received intralesional MA once a week, and the second group was treated once weekly with TCA 50% topical solution. The results were recorded once after 8 weeks and then 3 months after the termination of treatment.

Results: The total clearance rates after treatment and after the 3-month follow-up were, respectively, 48.1% and 40% in the first group and 44.4% and 36.6% in the second group. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (p=.25 and p=.26). In both groups, the most common side effect was scarring.

Conclusion: Having almost the same efficacies, TCA as a topical approach could be as effective as MA in the lupoid leishmaniasis treatment plan.