title: Placebo-controlled clinical trial of sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) versus ketoconazole for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guatemala.
abstract: To determine the relative efficacy and toxicity of stibogluconate and ketoconazole for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, a comparative trial was conducted in which 120 Guatemalan men with parasitologically proven cutaneous leishmaniasis were randomly divided into three treatment groups: sodium stibogluconate (20 mg of antimony per kilogram per day intravenously for 20 days), ketoconazole (600 mg per day orally for 28 days), and placebo. Treatment outcome was influenced by species. Among patients infected with Leishmania braziliensis, 24 (96%) of 25 in the stibogluconate group but only 7 (30%) of 23 in the ketoconazole group responded. Among Leishmania mexicana-infected patients, only 4 (57%) of 7 in the stibogluconate group but 8 (89%) of 9 in the ketoconazole group responded. These differences emphasize the importance of speciation in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Navin
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chajón
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000187:drug effects*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007654:Ketoconazole; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate