title: Selective delivery of pentamidine to the lung by aerosol.
abstract: In 8 patients with diffuse infiltrates on chest radiograph undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy for suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, bronchoalveolar lavage sediment and supernatant concentrations of pentamidine were compared 18 to 24 h after administration of 4 mg/kg intravenous (n = 3) and aerosolized (n = 5) pentamidine isethionate. Aerosol was inhaled for 35 to 40 min with 300 mg of pentamidine isethionate in a jet nebulizer, baffled to decrease the particle size to 1.42 micron +/- 1.88 (mass median aerodynamic diameter +/- geometric standard deviation). Bronchoalveolar pentamidine concentrations were: In sediment, 9.34 +/- 1.74 postintravenous versus 705 +/- 242 ng/ml postaerosol (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05); supernatant, 2.64 +/- 0.73 postintravenous versus 23.2 +/- 7.75 ng/ml postaerosol (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05). Serum pentamidine levels were low or undetectable after aerosolization. Aerosol administration delivers significantly higher concentrations of pentamidine to the air spaces than does intravenous delivery in patients with diffuse alveolar infiltrates.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, California.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Debs
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Luce
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Corkery
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Brunette
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hopewell
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000578:Amidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008168:Lung; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010316:Particle Size; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000578:Amidines; D010419:Pentamidine