Abstract
1.1. Seven hundred and ninety-three kala-azar patients in North-west China were treated with urea stibamine during July, 1944, and June, 1946, and the period of observation extended to June, 1947:Of this total, 449 patients received the treatment once a week, and 344 twice a week.
2.2. While the individual dosage was kept constant with regard to the patient's age and body weight, the rate of disappearance of Leishmania from the bone marrow of a patient under treatment was found to depend upon the following two factors:
2.1.(a) The number of Leishmania present in bone marrow smear prior to treatment. The more the parasites, the more injections are required to make them disappear.
2.2.(b) The frequency of injections with which the drug is. administered. For a given total dosage,, divided into equal number of doses, weekly injections give better results than twice-weekly injections, as shown by the rate of disappearance of parasites from the bone marrow ; the improvement of the blood picture; and the lower incidence of relapses.
3.3. It is recommended that (a) the number of Leishmania present in the bone marrow smear prior to treatment be taken as a simple index of the severity, or degree of infection ; (b) the rate of their disappearance under therapy be taken as a means to estimate the potency of drugs ;and (c) their final disappearance be taken as a simple criterion of cure.
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