Amphotericin B in resistant visceral leishmaniasis.

Sodium stibogluconate (SSG) in the dose of 20 mg/kg body weight daily intramuscularly for 20-30 days is recommended by WHO as the first line drug for Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Relapses following therapy and unresponsiveness to the higher doses of SSG are still a problem in north Bihar. Serious toxicity of SSG including myocarditis, sudden death and renal failure have also been reported(l,2). Pentamidine isethionate is also extensively used as a second line drug for VL. The drug, however, has to be imported, is costly and toxic. Pentamidine induced diabetes mellitus and myocarditis leading to sudden deaths are not uncommon(3-6).