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Visceral leishmaniasis

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Updated 2024 NIH/HIVMA/CDC/IDSA guidelines for the management of visceral leishmaniasis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Guidelines

Key sources

The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of visceral leishmaniasis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA/CDC/NIH/HIVMA 2024) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA/ASTMH 2017).
1
2

Diagnostic investigations

Laboratory testing: as per ASTMH/IDSA 2017 guidelines, use multiple diagnostic approaches to maximize the likelihood of a positive Leishmania result, using methods such as:
visualization of the characteristic amastigote in smears or tissue (histopathology)
parasite isolation by culture
molecular detection of parasite DNA
serologic testing.
B
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Diagnostic procedures

Biopsy
As per ASTMH/IDSA 2017 guidelines:
Collect tissue aspirates or biopsy specimens for smears, histopathology, parasite culture, and molecular testing.
B
Perform bone marrow aspiration as the preferred first source of a diagnostic sample. Consider using liver, enlarged lymph nodes, and whole blood (buffy coat) as other potential sources of tissue specimens.
B

Medical management

Indications for treatment: as per ASTMH/IDSA 2017 guidelines, treat patients with clinical abnormalities compatible with visceral leishmaniasis and laboratory evidence of visceral leishmaniasis.
B
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Specific circumstances

Patients with HIV, antiretroviral therapy: as per CDC/HIVMA/IDSA/NIH 2024 guidelines, initiate antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible.
B
initiate or optimize antiretroviral therapy to prevent reactivation of visceral leishmaniasis.

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  • Patients with HIV (antileishmanial therapy)

  • Patients with HIV (secondary prophylaxis)

  • Patients with HIV (pregnancy)

  • Patients with HIV (treatment monitoring)

  • Patients with other causes of immunosuppression

Follow-up and surveillance

Monitoring of treatment response
As per ASTMH/IDSA 2017 guidelines:
Use clinical parameters to monitor the response to treatment, as they correlate well with parasitologic responses to treatment for visceral leishmaniasis.
B
Do not obtain parasitologic confirmation of response, such as by repeat bone marrow aspiration for microscopy and culture after treatment, in patients showing timely clinical response. Be aware that antibody levels fall but over many months or longer.
D

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  • Management of treatment failure

  • Management of relapse