Electrocardiographic changes in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis treated with systemic glucantime.
BACKGROUND
Antimonial compounds are regarded as the treatment of choice for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Systemic administration of these drugs has some side effects including cardio toxicity and electrocardiogram (EKG) changes. The objective of our study was to evaluate EKG changes in the patients with CL treated with systemic glucantime.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-one patients were enrolled in this prospective study. All of the selected patients had confirmed CL and were candidates for treatment with systemic glucantime. The patients were treated with systemic glucantime and EKG was performed before, during (weekly) and 1 month after cessation of the treatment. All of the collected data were analysed using SPSS software.


RESULTS
The most common change was prolonged QT interval that was seen in 19% of the patients. ST depression occurred in 6.1% of the patients. Minimal ST elevation occurred in 3% and inverted T was observed in 7.4% of the patients. Single premature atrial contraction (PAC) and single premature ventricular contraction (PVC) occurred in 0.7% and 2.29% of patients, respectively. Bradycardia was observed in 10.6% and left bundle branch block in 0.7% of the patients. All of these changes reversed after stopping the treatment except 1 case with left bundle branch block that lasted for 1 month after the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that treatment with glucantime can induce many ECG changes as QT prolongation have significant risk. We suggest that ECG monitoring should be performed in high-risk patients undergoing glucantime treatment with special attention to ECG changes mostly prolonged QT interval.
Sadeghian
Giti
G
Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Isfahan, Iran. Sadeghian@sdlrc.mui.ac.ir
Ziaei
Hengameh
H
Sadeghi
Masumeh
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000965:Antimony; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D000965:Antimony