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 toxocity 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 injection.

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

Alternatives

In many countries, widespread resistance to antimony has meant that amphotericin or miltefosine are now used in preference. [cite journal | title=Treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis: a systematic review of clinical studies done in India, 1980–2004. | journal=Lancet Infect Dis | volume=5 | issue=12 | pages=763–74
author=Olliaro P, Guerin P, Gerstl S, "et al." | doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70296-6 | year=2005 ]

ide effects

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

References