A Phase III Comparative Study of Dapsone / Trimethoprim and Clindamycin / Primaquine Versus Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate PCP in Patients With AIDS

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: Erythropoietin. Maintenance treatment with investigational triazoles (e.g., itraconazole). Antiemetics for nausea/vomiting, antihistamines for rash/pruritus, antipyretics for systemic symptoms (fever, headache, etc.) should be used for treatment of symptoms. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents may be used for control of myalgias, headache, etc. Concurrent Treatment: Allowed: Blood transfusions. Patients must have the following: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. HIV infection. Willing and able to sign informed consent. Patients under 18 years of age may enter with consent of parent or guardian. Prior Medication: Allowed: Up to 24 hours of treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP), dapsone / trimethoprim, or clindamycin / primaquine, or one dose of pentamidine for this episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Prior PCP prophylaxis. Required: Adjunctive prednisone therapy in patients with (A-a) DO2 of 35 - 45 torr receiving acute anti-PCP treatment. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following conditions and diseases are excluded: Positive screen for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Known NAD methemoglobin reductase deficiency and/or known hemoglobin M abnormality. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: Zidovudine (AZT). Ganciclovir. GM-CSF or G-CSF. Rifampin. Rifabutin. Corticosteroids (in patients with baseline (A-a) DO2 < 35 torr). Investigational drugs not specifically allowed. Folinic acid. Patients with the following are excluded: Previous dose-limiting intolerance to sulfones, trimethoprim, clindamycin, or primaquine. Requirement for other medications potentially effective in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (e.g., pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine). Prior enrollment in ACTG 108. Presence of other concurrent pulmonary pathology that would make interpretation of response to antipneumocystis therapy difficult. Inability to take oral therapy. Prior Medication: Excluded: Acute treatment doses of anti-Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia agents within 30 days prior to study entry except as noted above. Systemic steroids above adrenal replacement doses within 7 days prior to study entry (except for patients with (A-a) DO2 of 35 - 45 torr who receive prednisone in conjunction with acute anti-PCP treatment).