Single dose can cure Kala Azar: BHU study

“Amphotericin B is one of the most common drugs available for treatment of Kala Azar,which is provided free-of-cost to patients under the National Kala Azar Elimination programme,” said Dr Shyam Sundar,Professor of Medicine of BHU,the lead-researcher of the study.

“This medicine is injected every alternate day for a month and has a number of side effects like infusion-related fever or rigours,inflammation and blocking of veins,which might lead to infection as well as nephro toxicity and heart toxicity which might even cause kidney failure,” said Sundar.

“If the patients have been diagnosed with nephro toxicity or cardio toxicity,we have to stop medication till the time the patient recovers. The drug administration thus becomes very difficult,” he said.

According to him,the clinical study on 410 patients proves that a single dose of 10 mg per kg body weight of liposomal amphotericin B cures Kala Azar as effectively as the 15 dosage of 1 mg per kg body weight of amphotericin B.

“Liposomal Amphotericin B,though available in the market,was very expensive,costing around $200,” said Dr Sundar,who is also the chairman of drug and diagnostic sub-committee,a part of the national expert committee on kala azar.

Liposome are tiny bubbles made up of the same material as human cell membranes,and are used for drug delivery system. “Recently,under WHO guidelines,the cost of the drug has been reduced to $18 per vile for developing country but the Central government is yet to use it in its Kala Azar elimination programme,” he said,adding,“The toxicity of the drug is also reduced because of lesser dosage.”

“The WHO has decided to undertake a demonstration project of 1,050 patients with the drug and once it is successfully completed,we are planning to introduce it in the national programme of Kala Azar elimination as well,” he added.

The research was published in the February 2010 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.