title: Pharmacokinetics of pentavalent antimony (Pentostam) in hamsters.
abstract: Pentavalent antimony (Sb) is the classical treatment for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. We investigated Sb levels in serum, liver, spleen, and skin of hamsters administered therapeutic dosages of Sb (600 and 300 mg Sb/kg). Single administration of Sb was more effective against hepatic parasites than dividing the same total dose into multiple administrations, which suggests that for elimination of hepatic parasites in vivo, peak Sb concentration is more important than total area-under-the-curve levels. Serum Sb declined with an initial half-life of 1 hr. Skin Sb levels (352 micrograms Sb/g 1 hr after 600 mg Sb/kg) were initially higher than liver levels (77 micrograms Sb/g) or splenic levels (156 micrograms Sb/g), but levels were comparable (7-24 micrograms Sb/g) in the three organs by 8 hr after dosing. The generally comparable levels of Sb in the skin and in the visceral organs support the present clinical practice of administering the same dosage of Sb for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gallalee
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Gallalee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005942:Gluconates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate