Chemotherapy of trypanosomiasis: the potentiation of antimonial compounds by difluoromethylornithine (DFMO).

The currently available anti-leishmanial antimonial drugs, together with other antimony compounds were individually tested, in combination with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), against experimental murine trypanosomiasis with central nervous system involvement. Satisfactory cure rates could be achieved using a combination treatment of DFMO with most of these anti-leishmanial drugs, but in general, only when they were administered at least twice daily. Of the compounds tested, the most effective was antimony dimercaptosuccinate (Astiban).