A phase II study of recombinant human interferon-alpha2a and zidovudine in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Article Abstract:

Interferon-alpha2a administered in combination with zidovudine appears to have antitumor effects in people with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Researchers gave moderate doses of interferon-alpha2a and zidovudine to 62 HIV-infected people with nonvisceral Kaposi's sarcoma. Treatment lasted an average of 28 weeks, and follow-up lasted an average of 49 weeks. Partial or complete antitumor responses occurred in 25 study participants. Participants entering the study with higher CD4 cell counts, and therefore a lesser extent of immune system damage, were more likely to experience an antitumor response. The antitumor response lasted an average of 22 weeks. Of the 25 participants who had responses, 4 suffered tumor relapses and 2 others died. Side effects from the drugs ranged from fever and malaise to liver toxicity. Three participants stopped taking the drugs due to side effects. The findings indicate that this combination therapy may be tolerated by patients and may be useful even to patients with low CD4 cell counts.

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Zidovudine, Kaposi's sarcoma, Interferon alpha

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A controlled trial of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or aerosolized pentamidine for secondary prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 021

Article Abstract:

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be more effective than aerosolized pentamidine for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS patients being treated with zidovudine (AZT). PCP is a common opportunistic infection among AIDS patients. Among 310 AIDS patients being treated with zidovudine who had recovered from their first episode of PCP, 154 were treated with 160 milligrams (mg) of trimethoprim and 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole once a day and 156 were treated with 300 mg of aerosolized pentamidine once every four weeks. Fourteen patients (9%) in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group developed a recurrence of PCP over an average of 18 months, compared with 36 (23%) in the pentamidine group. The average time to develop a PCP recurrence was longer for patients treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole than for those treated with pentamidine. The number of side effects that occurred was similar for individuals in both treatment groups.

Usage

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A randomized trial of three antipneumocystis agents in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection

Article Abstract:

Dapsone and aerosolized pentamidine may be as effective as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in preventing a first occurrence of Pneumocystis (P.) carinii pneumonia in HIV patients. A total of 842 HIV patients were allocated to receive trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, dapsone or aerosolized pentamidine. They were followed for a median of 39 months. A total of 105 documented cases of P. carinii pneumonia occurred; 32% in the patients taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 31% in those taking dapsone and 36% in those taking aerosolized pentamidine. Almost half of the patients died during the study. The median survival was 40 months in those taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 39 months in those taking dapsone and 37 months in those taking aerosolized pentamidine. Dapsone and aerosolized pentamidine may be better tolerated in some HIV patients.

Evaluation, Dapsone

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