Comparative Study of Response on Fever, Regression of Spleen and Liver Size by Treatment with I.v. Amphotericin B and Oral Miltefosine in Cases of Visceral Leishmaniasis

This study was designed to compare the clinical cure produced by two most commonly used drugs i.v. Amphotericin B and oral Miltefosine in cases of visceral leishmaniasis. It was an observational and cross-sectional study. This study was conducted on two groups A and B, each had fifty patients and given I.V. Amphotericin B and oral Miltefosine respectively. 100% of cases became afebrile by 12th day in group A while by 14th day in group B. Reduction in mean size of spleen was significant (p<0.01) at 15th day in group A patients while by 22nd day (p<0.05) in group B. 100% of cases had non palpable spleen after 22nd day till the end of 6th month in group A but remained palpable till 6th month in 4 cases in group B. Reduction in mean size of liver was significant (p<0.05) on 15th day in group A while 22nd day (p<0.05) in group B patients. Liver was not palpable after 22nd day of treatment in group A while in group B it was not palpable after 2nd month. These results suggest that the clinical cure achieved in terms of response on fever and rate of spleen and liver regression in group A patients were more faster than group B patients.