Primary prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by inhalation of pentamidine. Preliminary results from a placebo-controlled randomized trial. Swiss Group for Clinical Studies on AIDS.
Patients with AIDS but without pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, patients with advanced AIDS-related complex (ARC), and asymptomatic patients with less than 200 CD4-positive lymphocytes/mm3 were randomized to one of two groups: group I: Inhalation of 300 mg of pentamidine every 28 days; group II: Inhalation of placebo (300 mg of Na isethionate) every 28 days. From May to November 28, 1989, 160 patients have entered the trial. Inhalations were well tolerated, with only a 6% use of bronchodilators and a 15% incidence of cough. Until now five patients died, none of them drug related. So far, six patients have developed pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; four of these were on pentamidine, and two on placebo. Five of the six cases occurred before the second inhalation. Recruitment will continue until 250 patients are enrolled.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland.
B
B
Hirschel
P
P
Chopard
J P
JP
Chave
H J
HJ
Furrer
M
M
Opravil
P
P
Hilti
P
P
Vernazza
A
A
Lazzarin
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D010419:Pentamidine