EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF LEISHMANIASIS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL.

Abstract

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is an endemic disease in Brazil, but comprehensive reports on its epidemiology and clinical characteristics remain limited. The potential shifts in the disease's epidemiological profile emphasize the need for updated and in-depth studies. In this retrospective longitudinal observational study, we analyzed the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with ATL who received care at the Clinical Hospital Complex of the Federal University of Paraná (CHC-UFPR), a key referral center for the disease in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, between June 2013 and June 2023. Statistical analyses included χ² goodness-of-fit, Fisher's exact, Shapiro-Wilk, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. A total of 65 patients were included, predominantly male (75.4%), of white ethnicity (90.8%), and having visited endemic regions (49.2%). The majority (70.8%) presented the mucosal form of the disease, followed by the cutaneous form (29.2%). The diagnosis was confirmed through laboratory tests in 75.4% of cases, with biopsy and Montenegro Skin Test being the most common methods. Multiple treatment cycles were administered in 46.8% of cases, with glucantime being the most prescribed drug (58.7%). Adverse effects were observed in 56.5% of patients, primarily involving gastrointestinal and renal complications. Healing rates were 84.8% for mucosal leishmaniasis and 73.7% for cutaneous leishmaniasis. These findings characterize the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients treated at a tertiary referral center in southern Brazil, highlighting the predominance of mucosal disease, the frequent need for repeated treatment, and the occurrence of treatment-related adverse effects in the study population.