Pentavalent antimonial

Pentavalent antimonials (also abbreviated pentavalent Sb or Sb^V) are a group of compounds used for the treatment of leishmaniasis. They are also called pentavalent antimony compounds.

Types

The first pentavalent antimonial used was urea stibamate: first introduced in the 1930s, it fell out of favour in the 1950s due to higher toxicity compared to sodium stibogluconate.

The compounds currently available for clinical use are:

• sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam; manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline; available in US and UK), which is administered by slow intravenous injection.
• meglumine antimoniate (Glucantim; manufactured by Aventis; available in Brazil, France and Italy), which is administered by intramuscular or intravenous* injection injection.

The pentavalent antimonials can only be given by injection: there are no oral preparations available.

• Lima EB, Porto C, Motta JCO, Sampaio RNR.Treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. An Bras Dermatol. 2007;82(2):111-24.

Alternatives

In many countries, widespread resistance to antimony has meant that amphotericin or miltefosine are now used in preference.^[1]

Side effects

Cardiotoxity, reversible renal insufficiency, pancreatitis, anemia, leukopenia, rash, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia, myalgia, thrombocytopenia and transaminase elevation.

References

1. ^ Olliaro P, Guerin P, Gerstl S, (2005). "Treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis: a systematic review of clinical studies done in India, 1980–2004". Lancet Infect Dis 5 (12): 763–774. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70296-6. PMID 16310148.