Two cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia occurred in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients: supplemental treatment with aerosolised pentamidine isethionate.

Abstract

Two cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia occurred in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients who were diagnosed by the aspiration-lung-biopsy. They were treated with 4 mg/kg of pentamidine isethionate intravenously administered followed by pentamidine aerosol inhalation. Although clinical and laboratory findings were improved by the fifth or seventh day of intravenous therapy, substantial leukocytopenia, from 3,000/cmm to 600/cmm and from 2,700/cmm to 1,000/cmm, occurred. At this point, the method of pentamidine administration was switched to inhalation. Pentamidine 600 mg in 30 ml distilled water was aerosolised using ultrasonic nebuliser and exposed for a 30-minute period once daily. In both cases, chest x-rays showed improvements: The disappearance of P. carinii were obtained in two weeks. Mild coughing was the sole adverse reaction encountered during the course of aerosol inhalation.

• Authors: H Goto, S Oka, H Mohri, S Kimura, K Mitamura, K Shimada
• Journal: Japanese journal of medicine (Jpn J Med) 1989 Jan-Feb Vol. 28 Issue 1 Pg. 105-9 ISSN: 0021-5120 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 2786100 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aerosols
• Amidines
• Pentamidine

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adult
• Aerosols
• Amidines (administration & dosage)
• HIV Seropositivity (complications)
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Opportunistic Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Pentamidine (administration & dosage)
• Pneumonia, Pneumocystis (complications, drug therapy)