High frequency of skin reactions in patients with leishmaniasis treated with meglumine antimoniate contaminated with heavy metals: a comparative approach using historical controls

Abstract

Key words: pentavalent antimony -heavy metals -cutaneous leishmaniasis -lead -arsenic -toxicity Pentavalent antimonials had been, for many years, the first-choice drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis (Marsden 1985, Herwaldt & Berman 1992, Berman 1997. Two salts are commercially available, meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. They are used by the IM or IV route. In Brazil, patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis are treated with meglumine antimoniate, 10-20 mg/kg/day IM or IV, for 20-30 days follo…