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AIDS-related cryptosporidial diarrhoea: an open study with roxithromycin
E Sprinz1, R Mallman, S Barcellos
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|May 14, 1998
Summary
Roxithromycin effectively treated cryptosporidial diarrhea in AIDS patients, offering symptomatic improvement for most. This antibiotic shows promise for a debilitating infection lacking specific therapies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cryptosporidial diarrhea is a severe, life-threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals.
- Currently, no specific effective therapy exists for cryptosporidiosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of roxithromycin in treating cryptosporidial diarrhea in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Main Methods:
- An uncontrolled study involving 24 AIDS patients with cryptosporidial diarrhea.
- Patients received roxithromycin 300 mg twice daily for 4 weeks.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic improvement in 79% of patients; 50% achieved complete response.
- Complete response rate was 100% in patients without other opportunistic infections.
- Rapid improvement (3-5 days) and sustained response (≥6 months) observed in complete responders.
- Adverse effects included abdominal pain and elevated hepatic enzymes, generally manageable.
Conclusions:
- Roxithromycin is a relatively well-tolerated and effective treatment option for cryptosporidial diarrhea in AIDS patients.
- Further research is needed to optimize roxithromycin dosing regimens for this indication.