Comparison of Electrocardiographic Changes Induced by Injection Meglumine Antimoniate after Intravenous Versus Intramuscular Administration in Patients of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Objective: To compare the electrocardiographic changes induced after intravenous versus intramuscular administration of injection meglumine antimoniate in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Study Design: Quasi Experimental Study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from April to October 2024.

Methodology: A total of 80 patients with biopsy-proven cutaneous leishmaniasis were divided into intravenous (Group-A) and intramuscular (Group-B) groups. The intravenous group received 15mg/kg/day of meglumine antimoniate diluted in 100 ml of 5% glucose solution over 60 minutes with cardiac monitoring, while the intramuscular group received a similar dose as per weight into the gluteal muscles. ECG was done before the start of treatment and then weekly. Only 03 patients lost to follow so data analysis was done on 77 patients.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 30.60±6.35 years. Out of 77, 24(30.0%) patients experienced ECG changes in both groups: T wave inversion in 14(17.5%), Bifid T-wave in 4(5.0%), and QT prolongation in 2(2.5%). A higher proportion of ECG changes occurred in the Group-A (n=14, 35.0%) compared to the Group-B (n=10, 25.0%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.210). The ECG changes were statistically insignificant when stratified for route of administration, number of lesions, and number of injections except for QT prolongation (p=0.004)

Conclusion: Electrocardiographic changes were more frequent in patients using the intravenous route compared to intramuscular administration, but the results were statistically insignificant.