Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with sodium stibogluconate in Sudan: management of those who do not respond

• Published in: Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology 1998-03, Vol.92 (2), p.151-158
• Main Authors: Khalil, E. A. G., El Hassan, A. M., Zijlstra, E. E., Hashim, F. A., Ibrahim, M. E., Ghalib, H. W., Ali, M. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Amphotericin B - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antimony Sodium Gluconate - therapeutic use; Antiparasitic agents; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance; Female; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - complications; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Splenectomy; Sudan; Tropical medicine; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - complications
• ISSN: 0003-4983; 1364-8594
• DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1998.11813274

Almost all (98%) of 1593 visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients treated with sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam®; Wellcome) in Sudan between 1989 and 1995 and followed-up responded well to treatment. However, the other 33 patients, all of whom were seronegative for HIV, showed partial or no response. The two main causes of unresponsiveness were primary drug resistance (39.3%) and low drug dosages given at peripheral dispensaries (30.3%). All of those who had been sub-optimal doses were cured when adequate doses of the drug were given. A third cause was concurrent disease, particularly pulmonary tuberculosis (18%). With treatment of the concurrent disease, patients responded well to Pentostam. Eight patients who failed to respond to repeated courses of Pentostam did not benefit from pentamidine or sterol inhibitors. Three of these patients responded to liposomal amphotericin B, two responded to splenectomy in association with Pentostam therapy, and three died. Pentostam, given in adequate doses, still appears to be the drug of choice for the treatment of VL in the Sudan. Liposomal amphotericin B is a suitable second-line drug.