OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND LEISHMANASIS 19 DEC 90

File: 102496_sep96_decls7_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 4

Subject: OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND LEISHMANASIS 19 DEC 90              

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003202

Folder Title: DESERT SHIELD MEDICAL ISSUES REVIEW AND AD HOC WORKING GROUP                                    

Document Number:          2

Folder SEQ  #:         31








         SGRD-UWZ-P                             19 Doc 90


         MEMORANDUM F:OR Director Professional Services, OTSGI BG R. Blanck

         SUBJPCT: Operation Desert Shield and Leishmaniasis


         1. Col 0. Pederson, Commander USAMMOA, has requested the memorandum of the USAMROC
         Laishmaniasis Steering Committee, with respect to Leishmantasis in Operation Desert Shield, be
         sent to you at this time that leishmanlasis Is apparently being seen in the Persian Gulf region.

         2. The memorandum Is appended.

         3. The summarized recommendations are:

              a. Diagnosis: Medical assets In the Persian-Gulf Region be trained by USAMRDC in the
         parasitological diagnosis of leishmaniasis by aspiration and biopsy. It only clinical diagnosis is
         available, some patients who do not In fact have lelshmaniasts will be treated with potentially
         toxic drugs.

              b. treatment:
                 [Cutaneous disease: All patients with cutaneous disease be randomized between
         katoconazole (600 mg once a day for 28 days: In Theater) and placebo (vitamin treatment) in a
         study situation, or be given katomnazole In a treatment situation. Pentostam treatment of
         cutaneous disease (20 mg/kc/day for 20 days: In Theater) be reserved for sporatic cases or for
         patients who fail ketoconazole. Bemuse the optimum use of Pentostam (and katooonazole)
         requires knowledge only available at USAMROO via IO years of clinical investigation, medical
         corps personnel In the Persian Gulf region should be made associate Investigators of the
         USAMROC Pentostam protocol and receive appropriate training.


                 Visceral disease: All cases of visceral disease be given Pentostam (20 mg/kg/day for 30
         days), and be evacuated to WRAMC for this purpose.
                  I
                 Note; (food treatment records should be centrally reposlted at LISAMRDC so that the
n Desert Shield can guide future treatment of DoD forces.


              5 USC 522(b)(6)



                                               Chairman, MRDO Leishmaniasis Steering Committee

Document 4 f:/Week-36/BX003202/DESERT SHIELD MEDICAL ISSUES REVIEW AND AD HOC WORKING GROUP/operation desert shield and leishmanasis 19 dec :1011961539118
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003202
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DESERT SHIELD MEDICAL ISSUES REVIEW AND AD HOC WORKING GROUP
Folder Seq # = 31
Subject = OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND LEISHMANASIS 19 DEC
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 11-OCT-1996