"Altogether," lead investigator Dr. Michel J. Tremblay told Reuters Health, "our data demonstrate that one of the most commonly used compounds for the treatment of leishmaniasis, the antimonial drug sodium stibogluconate, can enhance HIV-1 replication in CD4+ T lymphocytes and lymphoid tissue, which are recognized as natural reservoirs of this pathogen."

Dr. Tremblay and colleagues at University Laval, Quebec note that the agent acts as an inhibitor of phosphotyrosyl phosphatases and such inhibitors can promote HIV-1 replication.

As he mentioned, the team found that the compound indeed induced an increase in HIV-1 transcription and virus replication in primary CD4+ T cells and thymic histocultures.

Leishmaniasis is an important opportunistic disease in HIV patients, and Dr. Tremblay noted that "the use of sodium stibogluconate to control parasitemia in patients dually infected with leishmania and HIV-1 should thus be envisaged with caution."

"Such dually infected patients," he concluded, "should be treated with effective antiparasitic agents to avoid a possible leishmania-mediated amplification of HIV-1 production and subsequent deterioration of their immunological status."

[Note from AIDSmeds: Leishmaniasis is spread by the bite of infected sand flies in various tropical and sub-tropical countries. More than 90% of the world's cases of leishmaniasis are in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, and Brazil. Cases of leishmaniasis, acquired in the United States, are very rare. Sodium stibogluconate is an intravenous medication better known by its brand name, Pentostam®]   

J Infect Dis 2007;195:236-245.

Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.