OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present review was to close the gap in the approach to pregnant women with visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) by providing up-to-date information to obstetricians about physiopathology, epidemiology, vertical transmission, drugs and treatment during pregnancy. BACKGROUND: Infection with Leishmania chagasi during pregnancy is rare and deserves special attention since little information is available regarding the occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis during gestational period and the real possibility of vertical transmission of this disease. Because specific areas in the world are endemic for the disease and considering the continuous growth of the population, cases of pregnant women with visceral leishmaniasis are becoming more frequent. Unfortunately, textbooks on infectious diseases do not include this specific group of patients, and studies in the literature on aspects related to pregnancy and visceral leishmaniasis are scarce. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical transmission of leishmaniasis is possible and the institution of treatment is imperative in cases of pregnant women with kala-azar. Amphotericin B is strongly recommended as the first choice drug due to its fewer maternal-fetal adverse effects.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present review was to close the gap in the approach to pregnant women with visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) by providing up-to-date information to obstetricians about physiopathology, epidemiology, vertical transmission, drugs and treatment during pregnancy. BACKGROUND: Infection with Leishmania chagasi during pregnancy is rare and deserves special attention since little information is available regarding the occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis during gestational period and the real possibility of vertical transmission of this disease. Because specific areas in the world are endemic for the disease and considering the continuous growth of the population, cases of pregnant women with visceral leishmaniasis are becoming more frequent. Unfortunately, textbooks on infectious diseases do not include this specific group of patients, and studies in the literature on aspects related to pregnancy and visceral leishmaniasis are scarce. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical transmission of leishmaniasis is possible and the institution of treatment is imperative in cases of pregnant women with kala-azar. Amphotericin B is strongly recommended as the first choice drug due to its fewer maternal-fetal adverse effects.
Authors: Hélida M Andrade; Vicente de P C P de Toledo; Marcos José Marques; João C França Silva; Wagner L Tafuri; Wilson Mayrink; Odair Genaro Journal: Vet Parasitol Date: 2002-01-03 Impact factor: 2.738
Authors: R E Gürtler; M Lauricella; N D Solarz; M A Bujas; C Wisnivesky-Colli Journal: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo Date: 1986 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 1.846
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Authors: Rafaianne Q Moraes-Souza; Ana Paula Reinaque; Thaigra S Soares; Ana Luiza T Silva; Rodolfo C Giunchetti; Maria A S Takano; Milena A Akamatsu; Flávia S Kubrusly; Fernanda Lúcio-Macarini; Isaias Raw; Dmitri Iourtov; Paulo Lee Ho; Lilian L Bueno; Ricardo T Fujiwara; Gustavo T Volpato Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-03-01 Impact factor: 3.240