title: Comparison of two medications in central nervous system toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS.
abstract: We retrospectively examined 39 patients with AIDS and central nervous system toxoplasmosis in order to determine the efficacy and safety of two combinations: pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine-clindamycin. The results showed a response rate of 79% for the sulfadiazine association and a high failure rate in the clindamycin group. Side effects with sulfadiazine were slightly more frequent, but with desensitization protocols discontinuation was kept down. The combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, associated, when necessary, with desensitization schedules, was confirmed to be first choice therapy for cerebral toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients. The role of alternative regimens needs further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ammassari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiuro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camilli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pizzigallo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamburrini
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D002981:Clindamycin; D011739:Pyrimethamine