History and Objectives: Due to the prevalence of the cardiovascular diseases and alteration in electrocardiographic pattern and higher prevalence of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the region, the present study was undertaken in order to assess the electrocardiogram change on patients treated with Glucantime as in order to investigate its side effects in light of recent opposing reports on patients infected with the cutaneous Leishmaniasis referred top the Central Laboratory of Aran-Bidghol in 1997.

Materials and Methods: A clinical trial with comparison of before and after treatment on patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis with normal cardiovascular and electrocardiogram performance was carried out. Treatment of other medication which may induce adverse cardiovascular side effects were not used. Glucantime (Specia, France, 20 mg/kg/day) in the form of pentavalent antimony was injected intramuscularly for 20 days and its effect on the T, QRS, P waves, ST segment and PR and QT interval were investigated in 10th and 20th day of treatment. Reduction in T wave voltage (More than 50%) or its inversion (Depression) and QTC more than 0.43 seconds is taken as abnormal pattern. Alternation in wave pattern with respect to age and gender before treatment and at the tenth day, before and at the 20th day of the treatment and 10th and 20th day for treatment was studied. Mc Nemar statistical analysis was carried out.

Results: From 50 patients (35 male age interval 25.2±17.3 years and 15 males) 40% displayed abnormal electrocardiographic pattern. Statistically significant alternation in T wave was observed in 13 patients at the 10th day of treatment and 16 patients at the 20th day of treatment compared to before day of treatment (P<0.05). Significant QT interval differences at the 10th and 20th day of treatment compared with day before treatment was observed in 7 and 9 patients respectively (P<0.05). Irrespective of age and gender, these 2 wave patterns showed statistically significant difference for the 10th and 20th day of treatment.

Conclusion: Treatment with Glucantime induced abnormal T and QT waves which warrants further study on the long-term cardiovascular effect of Glucantime treatment. With cardiovascular side effects especially arrhythmia, induction diffences and QT more than 0.05 seconds, the drug treatment should be discontinued.