TY - JOUR T1 - Long-term results of monthly inhaled pentamidine as primary prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-infected patients. A1 - Pretet,S, AU - Salmon,D, AU - Rousseau,F, AU - Guillon,J M, AU - Taki,B E, AU - Roux,M E, AU - Belguendouz,A, AU - Deleuze,J, AU - Morini,J P, AU - Gorin,I, PY - 1993/1/1/pubmed PY - 1993/1/1/medline PY - 1993/1/1/entrez SP - 35 EP - 40 JF - The American journal of medicine JO - Am J Med VL - 94 IS - 1 N2 - PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of inhaled pentamidine as primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). PATIENTS: Two hundred thirty-two HIV-infected patients with a CD4 cell count below 20% of the total lymphocyte count were given aerosolized pentamidine once every 4 weeks for more than 3 months. Pentamidine aerosols were administered at the hospital under medical supervision. Prevention of bronchospasm was carried out using inhaled salbutamol. RESULTS: Mean duration of prophylaxis was 15.9 months. Eleven patients (4.7%; [95% confidence interval 2% to 7.4%]) developed PCP. Probability to remain free of PCP is 95.6% at 12 months, 94% at 18 months, and 88% at 24 months. Mean delay between the onset of the prophylaxis and the occurrence of PCP for the 11 patients was 12.9 months (range: 4 to 26 months). No major side effect was observed, and minor side effects (cough, acute dyspnea) were infrequent. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and tolerance of aerosolized pentamidine as shown in our study support its use as primary prophylaxis against P. carinii in HIV-infected patients. SN - 0002-9343 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/8420298/Long_term_results_of_monthly_inhaled_pentamidine_as_primary_prophylaxis_of_Pneumocystis_carinii_pneumonia_in_HIV_infected_patients_ L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0002-9343(93)90117-8 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -