Sodium stibogluconate: therapeutic use in the management of leishmaniasis

Abstract

Leishmaniasis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease is endemic in developing countries of tropical regions, and in recent years economic globalization and increased travel has also spread to people in developed countries. In the absence of effective vaccines and vector-control measures, the main line of defense against the disease is chemotherapy. Organic pentavalent antimonials, including sodium stibogluconate have been the first-line drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis for the last several decades, and clinical resistance to these drugs has emerged as a primary obstacle to successful treatment and control. The present review describes the structure, activity, mode of action of sodium stibogluconate and mechanism of resistance towards this drug in leishmaniasis.