title: Antimony toxicity.
abstract: Antimony toxicity occurs either due to occupational exposure or during therapy. Occupational exposure may cause respiratory irritation, pneumoconiosis, antimony spots on the skin and gastrointestinal symptoms. In addition antimony trioxide is possibly carcinogenic to humans. Improvements in working conditions have remarkably decreased the incidence of antimony toxicity in the workplace. As a therapeutic, antimony has been mostly used for the treatment of leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis. The major toxic side-effects of antimonials as a result of therapy are cardiotoxicity (~9% of patients) and pancreatitis, which is seen commonly in HIV and visceral leishmaniasis co-infections. Quality control of each batch of drugs produced and regular monitoring for toxicity is required when antimonials are used therapeutically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. drshyamsundar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D000965:Antimony; C037554:antimony trioxide