Immunotherapy for Parasitic Disease

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Abstract
This issue of the Journal includes a report on the benefits of adding interferon gamma to pentavalent antimony in the treatment of refractory or severe visceral leishmaniasis.1 In order to evaluate this new, sophisticated therapy for an old parasitic disease, some background information about visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) may be in order. In contrast to cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, in which the protozoan parasite is localized, the visceral disease is caused by growth of the parasite within reticuloendothelial cells throughout the body. It is characterized by fever, weight loss, and hepatosplenomegaly, as well as anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. During the active . . .