title: Efficacy of pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine in the prevention of toxoplasmic encephalitis relapses and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of 25 mg pyrimethamine plus 500 mg sulfadoxine given twice a week in preventing relapses of AIDS-related toxoplasmic encephalitis was evaluated in an open study. The 56 HIV-infected patients evaluated had responded to intensive treatment with pyrimethamine/clindamycin prior to starting the present prophylactic regimen. Four patients (7 %) experienced relapse while on pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine. The probability of freedom from relapse was > 90% for 12 months and > 80% for 24 months. Side effects comprised mild or moderate allergic reactions which occurred in 23 patients (41 %), leading to discontinuation in four patients (7%). Forty-nine of the 56 patients did not have a history of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and did not receive antiparasitic prophylaxis other than pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine; two of them (4 %) developed pneumocystosis. The probability of freedom from pneumocystosis was about 90 % for 24 months. Pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine twice a week appears to be a promising regimen for prevention of toxoplasmic encephalitis, and also appears to provide protection against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Although allergic reactions are usually mild and disappear on continuation, they may limit the value of this regimen.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine (Department of Infectious Diseases), Rudolf Virchow University Hospital, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schürmann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schüler-Maué
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grünewald
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Pohle
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine