[Preventive pentamidine inhalation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with immune deficiency. Preliminary evaluation of a multicenter study].

In the first evaluation of an uncontrolled multicenter study on inhalative pentamidine prophylaxis (300 mg pentamidine-isethionate monthly) of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, 48 patients (all 48 patients HIV1-infected, 36 without preceding pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (primary prophylaxis), twelve after pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (secondary prophylaxis); age 20 to 68 years (median 38); 45 male, two female, one unknown; 22 patients AIDS) were observed for 0 to 8.5 months (mean 4 +/- 2 months, intended observation time twelve months). No proven pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was found in the observed patients. One patient was treated with cotrimoxazole because of a suggested pneumocystis carinii pneumonia-relapse, which could not be proven. Out of seven (14.6%) patients, whose therapy was discontinued, three patients died, three refused further therapy, one patient had a relapse of a cerebral toxoplasmosis. Six patients (12.5%) reported adverse reactions (cough, metallic or bitter taste, slight nausea). New opportunistic infections appeared in four patients (8.3%).