[The prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by pentamidine inhalation].
167 HIV-positive patients (155 men, 12 women; mean age 31 [18-61] years) with CD4 lymphocyte counts below 250/microliter every 4 weeks received 300 mg pentamidine per aerosol inhalation during out-patient visits, as prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii. 89 patients were clinically in the AIDS stage and 33 in the AIDS-related complex (ARC) stage. 29 patients had a lymphadenopathy syndrome, while 16 were asymptomatic. 130 patients received primary prophylaxis, while 37 who had previously had an attack of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were given pentamidine as secondary prophylaxis. During a mean observation period of 8 months three patients developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (1.7%): their CD4 lymphocyte count was under 20/microliters. Pentamidine inhalation reduced the incidence of a first attack of pneumonia to 0.18% per month and recurrence to 0.32% per month. These figures confirm the great effectiveness of primary and secondary prophylaxis with pentamidine inhalation.
Abteilung Gastroenterologie, Universität Düsseldorf.
H
H
Jablonowski
C
C
Elsing
J
J
Erckenbrecht
K H
KH
Hengels
G
G
Strohmeyer
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000150:complications; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
D010419:Pentamidine
Prophylaxe der Pneumocystis-carinii-Pneumonie durch Pentamidin-Inhalation.