Aerosols in the Treatment of Asymptomatic Pneumocystis Pneumonia: A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of Aerosolized Pentamidine as Treatment of Subclinical Pneumocystis Infection in Patients With No Clinical Symptoms
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130315205659im_/http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/frame/triangle.gif)
To confirm the ability of pulmonary (lung) function testing (PFT) to detect Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) before the development of clinical symptoms and to determine if pentamidine (PEN), a drug used in treating PCP, can be given effectively as an aerosol (inhaled mist). Other goals include the measurement of the actual amount of PEN that reaches the lung, and to determine if close clinical observation is safer and as effective as drug therapy for the prevention of subsequent episodes of PCP.
Many AIDS patients develop PCP, but the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment of PCP is not known. The effectiveness of PEN may be improved if treatment is begun when the parasite burden (the number of organisms in the lung) is still small, and before respiratory symptoms appear. If PFT of HIV-infected patients is able to identify patients in the early stages of infection, outpatient treatment of these patients offers a possible alternative to the expense and toxicity of continuous preventive therapy of all high-risk patients.
Condition | Intervention |
---|---|
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis Carinii HIV Infections |
Drug: Pentamidine isethionate |
Study Type: | Interventional |
Study Design: | Masking: Open Label Primary Purpose: Treatment |
Official Title: | Aerosols in the Treatment of Asymptomatic Pneumocystis Pneumonia: A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of Aerosolized Pentamidine as Treatment of Subclinical Pneumocystis Infection in Patients With No Clinical Symptoms |
Estimated Enrollment: | 20 |
Study Completion Date: | June 1991 |
Many AIDS patients develop PCP, but the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment of PCP is not known. The effectiveness of PEN may be improved if treatment is begun when the parasite burden (the number of organisms in the lung) is still small, and before respiratory symptoms appear. If PFT of HIV-infected patients is able to identify patients in the early stages of infection, outpatient treatment of these patients offers a possible alternative to the expense and toxicity of continuous preventive therapy of all high-risk patients.
Patients are treated with aerosolized PEN on an outpatient basis. The aerosol therapy is given by a respiratory therapist 5 times a week, for a total of 21 days of treatment. In addition, patients participate in two radioactive aerosol studies in which the patient inhales a radioactive gas while sitting with his/her back against a gamma camera. The resulting picture outlines the lungs. Then the gas is exhaled and the patient breathes an aerosol of PEN. This mist contains a single dose of PEN mixed with a small amount of radioactivity (99mTc-pertechnetate). The gamma camera determines where the particles deposit in the lungs. The radioactive exposure is equivalent to a typical x-ray of the ribs. Patients also undergo diagnostic bronchoscopy with lavage, and PFT. Blood is drawn to measure the blood level of PEN. Patients are followed (clinical exams and PFT's) for 6 months after the end of therapy. Prophylaxis for PCP is allowed during the 6-month follow-up.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130315205659im_/http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/frame/triangle.gif)
Ages Eligible for Study: | 13 Years and older |
Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria
Concurrent Treatment:
Allowed during aerosolization:
Metaproterenol or albuterol to treat bronchospasm.
Patients must have:
- HIV infection confirmed by ELISA, HIV culture, or p24 antigenemia.
- Suspected subclinical Pneumocystis carinii infection as detected by > 10 percent change in lung volumes and/or diffusing capacity indicative of progressive restrictive disease as detected by monthly screening pulmonary function tests (PFT's). Patients will be afebrile and have no respiratory signs or symptoms of clinical disease. Morphologic confirmation of pneumocysts will be determined by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed 24 hours after the initial aerosol inhalation. If the BAL is negative for pneumocysts, the patient will be withdrawn from this protocol and will be followed per the screening PFT protocol at Stony Brook.
- Diagnostic bronchoscopy and BAL must be performed within 2 weeks of detection of > 10 percent change in PFTs.
- Ability and willingness to sign informed consent.
Prior Medication:
Allowed:
- Primary prophylaxis with agents active against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), but no more than 5 patients may have received prior prophylaxis with aerosolized pentamidine.
- Zidovudine.
Exclusion Criteria
Co-existing Condition:
Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:
- History of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
- Development of respiratory signs and/or symptoms in the interval between detection of pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormality and the time of initial aerosol deposition.
- Dyspnea, cough, or bronchospasm that prevents cooperation with aerosol administration.
- History of a major adverse reaction to pentamidine defined by absolute neutropenia, < 750 polymorphonuclear leukocytes plus bands; thrombocytopenia, < 40000 platelets; creatinine rise, > 3.0 mg/dl; liver function abnormalities, SGOT or SGPT > 5 x normal; hypoglycemia, < 50 mg/dl; rash, exfoliative or mucositis; cough, unremitting cough or bronchospasm uncontrolled by bronchodilator preventing > 50 percent of dose delivered for > 2 days.
Concurrent Medication:
Excluded:
- Zidovudine.
Patients unable to cooperate with aerosol administration are excluded.
Prior Medication:
Excluded:
- Another antiprotozoal regimen for this episode. Unable to complete therapy or follow-up for social reasons in the opinion of the investigator.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130315205659im_/http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/frame/triangle.gif)
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130315205659im_/http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/frame/triangle.gif)
Additional Information:
Publications:
Responsible Party: | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00000707 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: | ACTG 048, 11022 |
Study First Received: | November 2, 1999 |
Last Updated: | March 28, 2012 |
Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):
Respiratory Function Tests AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii Pentamidine Lung |
HIV Seropositivity Drug Evaluation Administration, Inhalation Aerosols Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Pneumonia Pneumonia, Pneumocystis Pneumocystis Infections Lentivirus Infections Retroviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Immune System Diseases Slow Virus Diseases |
Lung Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Lung Diseases, Fungal Mycoses Pentamidine Antifungal Agents Anti-Infective Agents Therapeutic Uses Pharmacologic Actions Antiprotozoal Agents Antiparasitic Agents Trypanocidal Agents |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on March 14, 2013