title: Antimony-induced cerebellar ataxia.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis VL, caused by Leishmania donovani is endemic over several parts of Sudan. The disease is fatal if not treated. Although sodium stibogluconate Pentostam, a pentavalent antimonial is not free from toxicity, it has been in use for treatment of VL for the last 50 years. Like other infectious diseases, neurological manifestations of VL and sodium stibogluconate have been documented. In this report, we present 2 cases of cerebellar ataxia most likely induced by Pentostam, and explain the probable cause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology and Immunology. Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, PO Box 45235, Khartoum, Sudan. eltahirk@iend.org
authors.forename: Eltahir Awad G
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Ammar E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: Muna H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hussein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000965:Antimony; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013397:Sudan
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000965:Antimony; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate