Paromomycin for cryptosporidiosis in AIDS: a prospective, double-blind trial

J Infect Dis. 1994 Aug;170(2):419-24. doi: 10.1093/infdis/170.2.419.

Abstract

To test the effects of paromomycin, 10 patients with AIDS and cryptosporidiosis were randomized to paromomycin or placebo in a double-blind trial. After 14 days, patients were switched to the other treatment for 14 additional days. Measures included the number and character of each stool and weekly 24-h stool specimens for weight and oocyst excretion. During the paromomycin treatment phase, oocyst excretion decreased from 314 x 10(6) to 109 x 10(6)24 h (P < .02). Oocyst excretion increased for the 4 patients initially on placebo compared to a median decrease of 128 x 10(6)/24 h for the 6 initially treated with drug (P < .02). Stool frequency also decreased more in those treated with drug (3.6 fewer vs. 1.25 fewer/24 h, P < .05). Trends favored drug over placebo for stool weight, stool character, and Karnofsky score. Paromomycin treatment resulted in improvement in both clinical and parasitologic parameters in cryptosporidiosis in AIDS.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Adult
  • Cryptosporidiosis / drug therapy*
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Paromomycin / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Paromomycin