title: Safety and efficacy of intravenous sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of leishmaniasis: recent U.S. military experience.
abstract: The efficacy and toxicity of sodium stibogluconate (SSG) at a dosage of 20 mg/(kg.d) for either 20 days (for cutaneous disease) or 28 days (for visceral, mucosal, or viscerotropic disease) in the treatment of leishmaniasis is reported. Ninety-six U.S. Department of Defense health care beneficiaries with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis were prospectively followed for 1 year. One patient was infected with human immunodeficiency virus; otherwise, comorbidity was absent. Clinical cure occurred in 91% of 83 cases of cutaneous disease and 93% of 13 cases of visceral/viscerotropic disease. Adverse effects were common and necessitated interruption of treatment in 28% of cases, but they were generally reversible. These included arthralgias and myalgias (58%), pancreatitis (97%), transaminitis (67%), headache (22%), hematologic suppression (44%), and rash (9%). No subsequent mucosal leishmaniasis was identified, and there were no deaths attributable to SSG or leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001, USA.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Wortmann
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Magill
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Endy
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grogl
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tally
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gambel
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Oster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate