Cardiac effects of sodium stibogluconate.

Abstract

1 Sodium stibogluconate although potentially cardiotoxic is the drug of choice for Kalaazar and cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis. Increasing use of this drug in the British Army has necessitated a formal evaluation of its cardiac side-effects. 2 Consequently a detailed study of the cardiac effects of sodium stibogluconate was undertaken in 22 male soldiers using for the first time modern non-invasive techniques. 3 Intravenous sodium stibogluconate 600 mg daily for 10 days did not affect blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular contractile function or rhythm. Electrocardiography showed a reversible reduction of T wave amplitude.

Therapeutic options for cutaneous leishmaniasis

“…After parenteral administration they are rapidly excreted by the kidneys and partly in the enterohepatic system (7,8). Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, headache, dizziness, hepatorenal toxicity, bone marrow hypoplasia, and cardiotoxicity are commonly cited side effects (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Trivalent antimony, though effective, is more toxic (15).…”

NewLeishmania donovaninucleoside hydrolase inhibitors from Brazilian flora

“…Most of the drugs used, especially the pentavalent antimonials, are toxic and oen ineffective due to parasite resistance. 3 Additionally, amphotericin B, used when treatment with antimonials is inappropriate, is highly toxic and costly. 4 The Leishmania donovani nucleoside hydrolase (LdNH) enzyme is a safe and effective target for the development of potential new drugs specic for the treatment of leishmaniasis.…”

A Novel Sterol Isolated from a Plant Used by Mayan Traditional Healers Is Effective in Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania donovani

“…These drugs suffer from significant drawbacks, including the need for parenteral routes of administration, poor patient compliance due to long treatment lengths and toxicity, and/or high cost, which limit their use in disease-endemic regions. For more than 50 years, the most common treatment has been antimony, which has potentially cardiotoxic side effects . Additionally, AmpB has been associated with nephrotoxicity .…”

“…For more than 50 years, the most common treatment has been antimony, which has potentially cardiotoxic side effects. 3 Additionally, AmpB has been associated with nephrotoxicity. 4 The only promising oral treatment, miltefosine (Impavido, Miltex), is frequently unusable because of its potential teratogenicity 5 and low tolerable doses, 6 which are exacerbated by a long half-life.…”