title: Low-dose dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infections in AIDS patients.
abstract: Five human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection had progressive weight loss and persistent fever despite multidrug antimycobacterial therapy. These patients were given daily low-dose oral dexamethasone (typically 2 mg/day) as adjunctive therapy. All had substantial and sustained weight gain (12 to 50% of pre-steroid treatment body weight [P < 0.03]), reduction in fever, and an improved sense of well-being. The serum albumin level increased during dexamethasone therapy (from 3.06 +/- 0.59 g/dl [mean +/- standard deviation] to 3.9 +/- 0.22 g/dl [P < 0.01]), while the serum alkaline phosphatase level fell (from 368 +/- 247 U/liter to 128 +/- 43.6 U/liter [P < 0.04]). Further studies of the potential role for corticosteroids in the management of disseminated M. avium complex infections in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients are warranted.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla, New York.
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Wormser
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Horowitz
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Dworkin
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone