Mônica Raquel Sbeghen
Evandra Maria Voltarelli
Tácito Graminha Campois
Elza Kimura
Sandra Mara Alessi Arisitides
Luzmarina Hernandes
Wilker Caetano
Noboru Hioka
Maria Valdrinez Campana Lonardoni
Thaís Gomes Verzignassi Silveira

Abstract Introduction: The topical and intradermal photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of methylene blue (MB) using light-emitting diode (LED) as light source (MB/LED-PDT) in the treatment of lesions of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania braziliensis in hamsters were investigated.Methods: Hamsters were infected in the footpad with ۴×۱۰۷ promastigotes of L. braziliensis and divided in ۴ groups: Control group was not treated, AmB group was treated with amphotericin B, MB-Id group received intradermal MB at the edge of the lesion and MB-Tp group received MB topic. After treatment with MB, the animals were illuminated using red LEDs at the ۶۵۵ nm wavelength for ۱ hour. The MB/LED-PDT was carried out three times a week for ۱۲ weeks.Results: Animals of MB-Tp group presented lesion healing with significant diminution in extent of the lesion, and reduced parasite burden compared to control group; however, no significant difference was seen compared to the AmB group. MB-Tp group also showed reconstitution of the epithelium, the formation of collagen fibers, organization in the epidermis, a little disorganization and inflammation in the dermis. MB-Id was ineffective in all parameters evaluated, and it was comparable to the control group results.Conclusion: These data show that PDT with the use of MB-Tp and LED may be an alternative for the treatment of ACL. However, additional studies are being conducted to assess the potential of MB/LED-PDT, alone or in combination with conventional therapy, for the treatment of ACL. Keywords: Photodynamic therapy Cutaneous leishmaniasis Leishmania braziliensis Treatment