Photodynamic therapy as a new treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

We assessed the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 5 patients. Delta-aminolevulinic acid in a water-in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesions and irradiation was performed. The treatment was repeated once a week for a month. Each time, direct smears of the lesions were prepared and cultured in NNN media. In direct staining, smears showed no amastigotes after 1 or 2 sessions. Healing and cosmetic outcome after photodynamic therapy was excellent. Only mild local inflammatory reaction was noted with no scarring and 4 months after the last treatment session, there were no clinical signs of recurrence.