Toxicity is associated to both dose and duration of treatment. Hence the use of (S,S)-enantiomer greatly improved the risk/benefit balance. Medical uses
Ethambutol is used along with other medications to treat a number of infections including: tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, and Mycobacterium kansasii. Adverse effects
Optic neuritis (hence contraindicated in children below six years of age)
Red-green color blindness People taking ethambutol should be monitored for changes in visual acuity and color discrimination. Arthralgia
Hyperuricaemia
Vertical nystagmus
Milk skin reaction

Mechanism of action
Ethambutol is bacteriostatic against actively growing TB bacilli. It works by obstructing the formation of cell wall. Mycolic acids attach to the 5-hydroxyl groups of D-arabinose residues of arabinogalactan and form mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex in the cell wall. It disrupts arabinogalactan synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme arabinosyl transferase. Disruption of the arabinogalactan synthesis inhibits the formation of this complex and leads to increased permeability of the cell wall. Pharmacokinetics
It is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and well distributed in body tissues and fluids. 50% is excreted unchanged in urine. See also
chiral drugs
chirality
enantiopure drug
stereochemistry

References
External links
"Ethambutol". Medicine Plus. "Ethambutol". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Cranioschisis (Greek: κρανιον kranion, "skull", and σχίσις schisis, "split"), or dysraphism, is a neural tube defect involving the skull. In this defect, the cranium fails to close completely (especially at the occipital region). Thus, the brain is exposed to the amnios and eventually degenerates, causing anencephaly.Craniorachischisis is on the extreme end of the dysraphism spectrum, wherein the entire length of the neural tube fails to close. See also
Rachischisis
Spina bifida


== References ==