Dapsone-trimethoprim for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
All patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and a first episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia seen at the San Francisco General Hospital between November 1984 and April 1985 were evaluated for oral treatment with dapsone (100 mg/d) plus trimethoprim (20 mg/kg body weight X d). All 15 patients who met the entry criteria improved clinically and radiographically within 3 to 10 days after starting treatment. Repeat pulmonary function tests and gallium lung scans after 3 weeks of therapy also showed improvement. Although side effects occurred in 14 patients, in only 2 were they severe enough to require stopping therapy. Both of these patients had worsening skin rash, and dapsone-trimethoprim therapy was stopped after 10 days. When compared with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or pentamidine used to treat P. carinii pneumonia in similar patients, oral dapsone-trimethoprim is at least as effective, seems to be better tolerated, and may have a lower frequency of serious side effects.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005334:Fever / Q000628:therapy; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000469:parasitology; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003622:Dapsone; D014295:Trimethoprim