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. 2017 Nov 17;2017(11):CD005067. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005067.pub4
Methods Study design: randomised controlled trial
Setting/location: Saudi Arabia (Bahrain)
Study period: 12 months
Sample size calculation: not described
Participants Type of Leishmania: not described
Inclusion criteria: proved positive for Leishmania parasites (amastigotes) on microscopic examination or biopsy
Exclusion criteria: not described
N randomised: 62. Rifampicin: 46; placebo: 16.
Rifampicin: 2 groups were analysed; group 1a (children aged 3‐11 years ‐ mean age, 7.5 years), and group 1b (adults aged 12‐65 years ‐ mean age, 33 years). 32 participants enrolled in group 1a and 30 in group 1b. Out of these, 8 participants in each group (16 in total) served as control to receive the placebo.
Withdrawals: 21 participants lost to follow‐up. Rifampicin: 12; placebo: 9
N assessed: 41. Rifampicin: 34; placebo: 7. Number participants imbalanced between groups
Age: range 3‐65 years; mean 20 years
Sex (male/female): 43/19
Baseline data: the duration of the lesions varied between 1 and 12 months (mean 2.6 months). The lesions of CL were single or multiple and were mostly over the extremities (upper limbs 51% and lower limbs 38%) and to a lesser extent on the face 30%. Most of the lesions were active being nodular, nodule‐ulcerative, or ulcerative. 2 of the participants were members of the same family. However, the rest of the participants had a negative family history.
Interventions Type of interventions:
  • Group 1: rifampicin orally in a dose of 10 mg/kg/d


  • Group 2: placebo


Duration of intervention: 2 equally divided doses during meals for 4‐6 weeks
Duration of follow‐up: 3 months
Outcomes Primary outcome: percentage of participants 'cured' 3 months after treatment
Secondary outcomes: duration of remission and percentage of people with treated lesions that recur up to 3 months of follow‐up
Adverse effects
Notes Study funding sources: not reported
Possible conflicts of interest: none declared
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk Quote: "Randomized"
Comment: insufficient detail was reported about the method used to generate the allocation sequence
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Comment: "Randomized" but no further information was provided
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes Unclear risk Quote: "Each subject in the control group was given placebo, which was supplied, in capsules/suspension identical in shape and colour to that given in the rifampicin group."
Participants look blinded but no information about personnel were provided
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes Unclear risk Comment: "Double‐blinded" but no further information
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes High risk There is a 38.87% of follow‐up, the percentage is very different between the groups, and it isn't explained.
Selective reporting (reporting bias) High risk No adverse effects data available
Other bias High risk Sample size calculation and reporting of Leishmania spp involved was not correctly reported