efficacy of different dosage regimens of pentavalent antimony on cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice

ABSTRACT

The efficacy of different dosage regimens of sodium stibogluconate [SSG], a pentavalent antimony [sb] agent in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] in male Balb/c mice was investigated. Mice with CL were divided into four groups. Mice in group 1, were injected intramuscularly with saline [control] and those in groups 2, 3 and 4 were injected with a total daily dose of 300 mg Sb/kg300 once 150 twice and 100 thrice mg sb/kg respectively daily for 10 days. None of the mice in groups 1 or 4 was cured, however the cure rates in groups 2 and 3 were 50% and 33%, respectively. Lesion size was reduced by 89% in group 2 as compared to 56% and 16% in groups 3 and 4 respectively. Peak plasma antimony level [C[max]]was determined in another 3 groups of mice that were given 300, 150 and 100 mg sb/kg. The C[max] were 34.3, 15.9 and 8.4 micro g /ml in groups 1.2 and 3 respectively. Those of groups 1 and 2 but not 3 were within the in vitro ED50 range [12-20 mg/1] of SSG. In conclusion, higher cure and healing rates as well as a more effective antimony plasma level are obtained when the total daily requirements of SSG is given as a single dose. This regimen should, thus be used instead of divided doses when treating CL