Amphotericin B lipid complex: in visceral leishmaniasis.

Amphotericin B lipid complex is a lipid formulation of amphotericin B, an antifungal drug with activity against Leishmania spp. Amphotericin B lipid complex appears to enhance uptake of amphotericin B by infected macrophages in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In randomised, open-label, dose-ranging studies, short-course treatment with once-daily amphotericin B lipid complex (5-15 mg/kg total cumulative dose over 5 days), administered by intravenous infusion, produced high rates of apparent (day 19) [93-100%] and definitive (6 months) [79-100%] cures in Indian patients with antimonial-resistant VL. Amphotericin B lipid complex appeared to be as effective as liposomal amphotericin B or the conventional deoxycholate formulation in a randomised, open-label study conducted in India in a mixed population of patients with previously untreated or antimonial-resistant VL. In patients with HIV infection and VL, amphotericin B lipid complex 3 mg/kg/day for 5 or 10 days appeared to be as effective as meglumine antimonate 20 mg/kg/day for 28 days in a small randomised pilot study in southern Europe. Amphotericin B lipid complex was generally well tolerated in patients with VL. Infusion-related reactions were the most common adverse events associated with amphotericin B lipid complex.