title: Clindamycin and primaquine therapy for mild-to-moderate episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS: AIDS Clinical Trials Group 044.
abstract: The objective of this prospective, noncomparative study was to assess the safety and efficacy of clindamycin and primaquine therapy for mild-to-moderate pneumocystis pneumonia (defined as a difference of < 40 mm Hg between the alveolar and the arterial oxygen determinations) in patients with AIDS. In the first part of the study, 22 patients were treated with iv clindamycin (900 mg every 8 hours) for the first 10 days, and then their therapy was switched to oral clindamycin (450 mg every 6 hours) for an additional 11 days. In the second part of the study, 38 patients were treated entirely with oral clindamycin (600 mg every 8 hours). All patients were treated with oral primaquine base (30 mg once daily). Fifty-five (92%) of 60 patients responded to the study treatment. Forty-six (77%) of 60 patients completed a full course of therapy. Of the nine patients with treatment-limiting toxic effects, four had only a mild rash. This study indicates that the combination of clindamycin and primaquine is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for mild-to-moderate pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with AIDS. Entirely oral therapy appears to be as effective as initial therapy with iv clindamycin.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fass
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Safrin
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stansell
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Plouffe
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011319:Primaquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002981:Clindamycin; D011319:Primaquine