Pentavalent antimonial

Overview
Pentavalent antimonials (also abbreviated pentavalent Sb or SbV) 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.

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