Observations on the intravenous toxicity and chelating activity of sodium stibogluconate.

Abstract

Abstract The optical activity, calcium chelating power and intravenous toxicity, but not the leishmanicidal activity, of a sodium stibogluconate solution varies with pH and age. As the optical rotatory power increases, the calcium chelating property decreases, and the solution becomes less toxic. Solutions of sodium stibogluconate injected intravenously into mice produce hypocalcaemia, which may be the cause of death. Production of hypocalcaemia may be a phenomenon common to many substances with chelating powers, a factor to be considered in the design of comparative toxicity tests.