Towards effective cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment with light-based technologies. a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies

Cabral, F. V. and Souza, T. H. dos S. and Sellera, F. P. and Fontes, A. and Ribeiro, M. S.

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology (2021) 221: 221

DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112236

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease that represents a serious global public health concern. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis targeting the use of light-based therapies on CL in preclinical studies since they are essential to identify the benefits, challenges, and limitations of proposing new technologies to fight CL. We searched Pubmed and Web of Science to include original preclinical researches in English that used light-based technologies to fight CL. Inclusion criteria encompassed any animal model for CL induction, an untreated infected group as the comparator, reliable and consistent methodology to develop and treat CL, focus on an antimicrobial therapeutic approach, and data for lesion size and/or parasite load in the infection site. We identified eight eligible articles, and all of them used photodynamic therapy (PDT). For the meta-analysis, three studies were included regarding the parasite load in the infection site and four comprised the lesion size. No overall statistically significant differences were observed between untreated control and PDT groups for parasite load. Differently, PDT significantly reduced the lesion size regardless of the protocol used to treat CL (in mm, SMD: -1.90; 95% CI: -3.74 to -0.07, p = 0.04). This finding is particularly encouraging since CL promotes disfiguring lesions that profoundly affect the quality of life of patients. We conclude that PDT is a new promising technology able to be topically used against CL if applied in more than one session, making it a promising ally for the management of CL.

Citation

Cabral, F. V., Souza, T. H. dos S., Sellera, F. P., Fontes, A., & Ribeiro, M. S. (2021). Towards effective cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment with light-based technologies. a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 221, 221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112236 meta-analysis, animal models, man, systematic reviews, literature reviews, human diseases, public health, infections, parasites, parasitoses, protozoal infections, laboratory animals, leishmaniasis, disease models, skin diseases, Protozoa, protozoal diseases, Animal and in vitro Models for Pharmaceuticals [VV450], Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400], Pesticides and Drugs, parasitic diseases, parasitic infestations, parasitosis, Protozoan, Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220], Control [HH405], cutaneous leishmaniasis, dermatoses, Leishmania, leishmaniosis, antiprotozoal agents

Keywords

• meta-analysis
• animal models
• man
• systematic reviews
• literature reviews
• human diseases
• public health
• infections
• parasites
• parasitoses
• protozoal infections
• laboratory animals
• leishmaniasis
• disease models
• skin diseases
• Protozoa
• protozoal diseases
• Animal and in vitro Models for Pharmaceuticals [VV450]
• Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400]
• Pesticides and Drugs
• parasitic diseases
• parasitic infestations
• parasitosis
• Protozoan
• Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220]
• Control [HH405]
• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• dermatoses
• Leishmania
• leishmaniosis
• antiprotozoal agents