Case report: Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in a patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy: risk status in an endemic Mediterranean area.

Abstract

This case report highlights the risk of severe cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) by Leishmania infantum in patients undergoing immunosuppressant therapy who either live in an endemic area or are visiting in the transmission season. The case patient, resident in Majorca (Balearic Islands), presented 12 disseminated erythematous skin lesions, 1 to 6 cm in diameter, located on the scalp, cheek, umbilical region and lower extremities eight years after undergoing anti-TNF therapy. Parasite presence in peripheral blood and high levels of specific antibodies were also observed, indicating a possible risk of CL shifting toward a visceral infection (VL). However, once CL was diagnosed, anti-TNF therapy was discontinued and liposomal amphotericin B was administered, resulting in a complete healing of lesions, no Leishmania DNA detection in blood and an important serological decrease in antibodies. The lack of data on the supposed epidemiological association between leishmaniasis and immunosuppressive therapy highlights the importance of implementing surveillance systems in endemic areas. No obvious relationship was found based on the data provided by the Balearic Islands Epidemiological System, in contrast with data reported in nearby endemic areas. This indicates that, if the suspected association is to be clarified, greater efforts are needed to report information about concomitant diseases and therapies in leishmaniasis patients.