Pyridoxine metabolism in patients with skin leishmaniasis in Libya

Epidemiological screening carried out in Libya revealed 1539 patients with zoonotic skin leishmaniasis who were treated, with consideration for the indications, by glucantine, lincocine, vilbramycin, keflex, amoxil, tigason, nisoral, and levamisole. Good results were attained in 1237 (80.3%) patients. In 302 (19.7%) patients the treatment was ineffective; laboratory tests revealed in their blood a marked deficit of pyridoxine. An extra course of therapy of these patients with vitamin B6 preparations pyriditol and pyridoxal phosphate was conducive to complete cure of these patients and recovery of normal pyridoxine level in the blood.