EFFECT OF PENTAMIDINE ISETHIONATE ON HEPATIC MARKERS IN GOLDEN-HAMSTERS DURING LEISHMANIA-DONOVANI INFECTION

Pentamidine isethionate, a second line drug used in sodium stiboglucon ate-unresponsive cases in leishmanial infection, at 2.5 mg/kg body wei ght (daily single i.p. injection for 5 days) caused significant change s in most of the biochemical parameters in liver and serum of golden h amsters, 7 days after the last injection. These included significant i ncrease in activities of hepatic gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, acid r ibonuclease, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, succinate dehydr ogenase and transaminases. The levels of hepatic DNA, RNA, total prote ins and glycogen decreased while that of bilirubin and lipid peroxides increased. In serum the levels of transaminases, bilirubin and gamma- glutamyl transpeptidase increased while that of albumin and total prot eins decreased. Alkaline phosphatase did not change significantly. The above studies therefore suggest that pentamidine although reduced the parasitic burden but itself is a hepatotoxic agent.