Amphotericin B therapy in kala-azar.

Twenty-seven adult patients of kala-azar unresponsive to sodium stibogluconate (SSG) were given amphotericin B in the dose schedule of 0.50 mg/kg body weight on alternate days for a total of 21 to 31 infusions, depending upon clinical and parasitological response. A 100% cure rate was achieved at the end of the therapy and no relapse was encountered during 12 months follow-up. Only mild adverse reactions were noted on the day of infusion during therapy. Amphotericin B was found to be an acceptable alternative drug for treatment of such cases.