Oral dapsone versus nebulized pentamidine for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis: An open randomized prospective trial to assess efficacy and haematological toxicity

Abstract

Objective: To compare the haematological toxicity and efficacy of oral dapsone and nebulized pentamidine as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients receiving zidovudine. Design: Randomized, prospective. Setting: Infectious diseases hospital with participants drawn from both inpatient and outpatient departments. Patients: Those eligible were starting treatment with zidovudine, needed PCP prophylaxis (CD4+ count <200 × 106/l or <20% total lymphocyte count or previous episode of PCP), and had a normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screen. Of the 98 patients enrolled, 96 returned for follow-up. Interventions: Fifty patients received dapsone (100 mg orally tw..