Fusidic acid treatment of HIV infection: no significant effect in a pilot trial

22 HIV-positive homosexual men were treated with fusidic acid tablets (500 mg t.i.d.) for a period of 2-12 months (mean 71/2). At entry, all had a CD4-count less than 500 X 10(6)/l, and/or a pokeweed mitogen lymphocyte proliferation response of less than 50% of 2 normal controls, and no overt opportunistic infections. No significant immunological changes were observed and no definite beneficial clinical effect. On the 10th-13th day of treatment, 12 of the patients developed fever and an itchy exanthema. The symptoms disappeared spontaneously in 9 patients. No hematological or biochemical side effects were seen. Thus, in this pilot study of fusidic acid therapy of HIV-infected men, no significant effect could be detected.