In India, about 5-7% of visceral leishmaniasis patients are detected with HIV infection, the highest in South Asia. 1 And yet, there is scarce evidence for treating coinfected patients due to a lack of randomized trials. A randomized phase 3 trial with 150 adult coinfected patients was conducted in India to compare the safety and efficacy of two coinfection treatments. 2 Patients were randomized to receive monotherapy (intravenous liposomal amphotericin B )(n=75) and combined therapy (intravenous liposomal amphotericin B + oral miltefosine ) (n=75).
Relapse-free survival at day 210 was 90% in the monotherapy and 97% in the combination therapy arm. The initial cure on day 29 was 93% in the monotherapy arm versus 99% in the combination arm. Serious adverse events were similar in each arm. Conclusion The combined therapy of liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine appears safe and…
