Pilot Study: Miltefosine Gel (G-MTF) in Patients With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Study universe/study population It is the department of Santander in Colombia. The department ranks third in Colombia for the highest number of CL cases, with an incidence of 57% of cases per 100,000 inhabitants at risk. Additionally, several endemic regions of leishmaniasis are situated near the city of Floridablanca, where the facilities of the Clinical Study Center of the Santander Ophthalmological Foundation (FOSCAL) are located, and this will be the study site. The study population includes patients with ncCL who live in endemic leishmaniasis areas within Santander. For selecting the study population, support from the Ministry of Health of Santander (SSS) will be available. The target population resides in endemic areas for CL within Santander, particularly in the municipal villages of Rionegro, Playón, Landázuri, San Vicente de Chucuri, and Cimitarra. Recruitment of patients will be conducted in three ways: face-to-face in the municipal capitals, with direct communication to residents under the guidance and supervision of the Office of Vector-Borne Diseases (ETV) of the SSS; through printed advertising, such as posters and brochures; and virtually via social networks.

Sample size This project is a pilot study, so the sample size is based on convenience. Consequently, the sample will include 15 participants (experimental group 1: n = 5; experimental group 2: n = 5; experimental group 3: n = 5). The sample size was determined considering: (i) the flow of patients in the institution (consultation estimates for this condition); (ii) the challenges in mobilising patients from endemic areas for this condition; and (iii) the resources available from the sponsoring organisation. This study will establish the clinical and statistical groundwork needed for future larger-scale studies by estimating the treatment response in the selected population.

Previus steps Patients will be informed about the study's objectives and potential risks associated with participation. A web application called "leishmaniasis-CINTROP" will be installed and demonstrated to serve as support and a permanent point of contact with us. Those wishing to participate must sign the informed, reviewed, validated, and approved consent before any intervention. The pre-treatment or screening period will last from 1 to 4 days, during which patients will be verified for inclusion criteria, and a general medical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood chemistry tests (including transaminases, amylase, lipase, and creatinine), and parasitological diagnosis will also be performed. Patients meeting the requirements will be eligible to participate. A woman of reproductive age should be asked to take a pregnancy test. She must guarantee the use of an effective contraceptive method during treatment and for up to three months thereafter. The medical history of each participant will be recorded and managed in accordance with Resolution 1995 of 1999. It will consist of sections such as personal data, personal and family history, habits (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, others), diagnoses (for leishmaniasis or other vector-borne diseases), physical examination (vital signs), site of injury(s), treatment assignment (code), treatment follow-up record, and adverse event reporting.

A general examination will be conducted by an internist with extensive knowledge of the study and the disease, during which data for the medical history will be recorded, including details on the progression of the injury(s). Vital signs, weight, and height will be measured. An electrocardiogram (ECG) will be performed on all patients and analysed to ensure the sinus rhythm, P wave, QRS complex, and T wave are within normal parameters.

For biochemical tests, diagnosis, and parasite culture, the following procedures will be used. A sample will be collected through venipuncture into a tube without an anticoagulant. The samples will then be centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 10 minutes. Levels of transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]), amylase, lipase, and creatinine will be measured using validated methods by a laboratory certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP). All women will be tested for pregnancy using commercial tests.

Regarding procedures for patients' injuries, the following steps will be taken: to collect imprints used in leishmaniasis diagnosis, the lesion will be carefully cleaned with gauze and a saline solution. A local anaesthetic (such as lidocaine) may be applied if necessary or recommended by the physician, approximately 20 minutes before proceeding. A sample (imprint) will be obtained by inserting the tip of a scalpel into the edge of the lesion, and the material will be spread on a glass slide. This smear will be fixed with alcohol, stained with Giemsa, and examined microscopically at 1000x magnification. The presence of at least one amastigote will be considered a positive result.

Randomisation Patients will be randomly allocated on a one-to-one basis using IVRS software "Interactive Voice/Web Response System in Clinical Research" for each treatment arm, with a code assigned for procedures and follow-up. Randomisation will be carried out in bulk, with the list prepared prior to the start of the study. The candidate who meets the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be assigned to the next available study group on the list. If a patient exits the study before treatment allocation is complete or before the therapy phase begins, their position on the list will be filled by the next candidate. Both the study investigators and the patients will be aware of their group allocation, as there will be no masking of treatments.