Pancreatitis and palindromic arthropathy with effusions associated with sodium stibogluconate treatment in a renal transplant recipient

We report the occurrence of two side effects, pancreatitis and palindromic arthropathy with effusions, associated with injections of sodium stibogluconate used in the treatment of kala-azar. No clear mechanism to account for the problems was identified despite extensive investigation. We suggest that when abdominal pain is experienced during treatment with antimonial drugs pancreatitis should be borne in mind as a possible cause.