title: A thirty day course of sodium stibogluconate for treatment of Kala-azar in Nepal.
abstract: Twenty-seven cases of Kala-azar were treated with sodium stibogluconate at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 20 days (group A) and an equal number of cases were treated with the same dose but for a longer duration of 30 days (group B). Clinical and laboratory evaluation of these cases were carried out before and after therapy, during a follow up of cases every month, upto 6 months. Renal and liver function tests and electrocardiography were carried out of monitor any toxic effect of the drug during therapy. The cure rates of patients were 77.78% and 92.59% in group A and B cases respectively. Six and two patients in group A and B respectively were unresponsive to the treatment and showed relapse. Results of the study show that treatment of cases of Kala-azar with sodium stibogluconate in a dosage of 20 mg/kg/day for a longer period of 30 days is effective with a higher cure rate and minimum side effects, for treatment of cases of Kala-azar in this eastern part of Nepal, endemic for the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Microbiology, BP Koirala, Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. bpkihs@npl.healthnet.org
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koirala
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Parija
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hansdak
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate