Advertisement
The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource Follow Us Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter
Professionals >> Visit The Body PROThe Body en Espanol
Take Tell Us What YOU Think! Take The Body's Visitor Survey!
  
  • Email Email
  • Glossary Glossary
The Body Covers: The 35th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Effects of Atovaquone (A) Versus Dapsone (D) in the Prevention of PCP for Patients Intolerant to Trimetheoprim-Sulfa

September 1997

A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!

Dr. Wafaa el-Sadr of Harlem Hospital, reported on the behalf of the Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group about the use of Atovaquone (A) versus Dapsone (D) in the prevention of PCP for patients intolerant to trimetheoprim-Sulfa. The study randomized 1,057 patients with a median CD4 of 60 cells/mm3 to either 1500 mg of A suspension, or 100mg of D/ day. There were 121 cases of first time PCP in the A group versus 134 in the D group (NS), 4 cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis in the A group and 3 in the D group (NS), and 232 deaths in the A group and 137 in the D group (NS). The rates of adverse events with discontinuations in both groups were comparable -- 133 in A and 137 in D. However, specific adverse events differed in that GI symptoms including diarrhea were more common in the A group, but hypersensitivity reactions and anemia were more common with D. The results suggested that although the overall efficacy, and tolerability rates for A and D were comparable, trimetheoprim-sulfa patients who were already on Dapsone and tolerating it should stay on it, but that patients who had no prior experience with either drug, were more likely to tolerate Atovaquone as the next line PCP prophylactic agent.

A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!

See Also
How to Prevent PCP
More Research on Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP)



  
  • Email Email
  • Printable Single-Page Print-Friendly
  • Glossary Glossary

This article was provided by The Body PRO. Copyright © Body Health Resources Corporation. All rights reserved.


Please note: Knowledge about HIV changes rapidly. Note the date of this summary's publication, and before treating patients or employing any therapies described in these materials, verify all information independently. If you are a patient, please consult a doctor or other medical professional before acting on any of the information presented in this summary. For a complete listing of our most recent conference coverage, click here.

Advertisement