Active clinical trials for "Pneumonia"

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.

To compare the safety and effectiveness of drug therapy with aerosolized pentamidine (PEN) with that of conventional therapy, sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients who have AIDS, are HIV positive, or are at high risk for HIV infection. New treatments are needed for PCP, a common lung infection in patients with AIDS, because many patients treated with the two standard treatments, PEN given by injections and SMX/TMP, have had adverse effects that required a change in treatment. There is also a high relapse rate after the standard treatments. Preliminary experiments in humans suggest that aerosolized PEN is as effective as the standard treatments for PCP, and causes few adverse effects.

To evaluate the delivery of a single dose of aerosolized pentamidine to children; to evaluate the tolerance of pentamidine administration by mask; to compare intravenous pentamidine first dose pharmacokinetics (blood levels) in children with information previously collected on adults; and to compare plasma pentamidine levels in children after an aerosolized treatment with levels previously collected on adults. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common serious infection in children with AIDS and is associated with a high death rate. Current approved treatment includes intravenous trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole (TMP / SMX) and intravenous pentamidine, which are both effective in treatment of the first episode of PCP pneumonia. However, both therapies have a 50 percent or greater incidence of adverse reactions. Because of serious toxicities, drug treatment has had to be discontinued. Animal studies show that aerosolized pentamidine (pentamidine given through inhalation) is as effective as intravenous pentamidine. It is hoped that the aerosolized route will be less toxic than intravenous pentamidine. The study is the first step in evaluating the delivery of aerosolized pentamidine to children.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of trimetrexate (TMTX) given at increasing doses along with the leucovorin calcium (LCV) for treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS patients TMTX is an experimental new drug which is effective for treatment of PCP, but has been given to only a few patients. Therefore it is not certain if TMTX is better, the same as, or not as effective as conventional drugs against PCP.

To compare the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug therapy (trimetrexate plus leucovorin calcium) with that of conventional therapy (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) in the treatment of moderately severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients who have AIDS, are HIV positive, or are at high risk for HIV infection.

To facilitate provision of atovaquone (566C80) to patients who have severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and are intolerant and/or unresponsive to trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole ( TMX / SMX ); to monitor serious adverse events attributable to 566C80.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of l-leucovorin in preventing toxicity from high dose trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (TMP / SMX) used as a therapy for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with AIDS.

This study will determine what dose of recombinant interferon-gamma is safe and effective for treating multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis. Recombinant interferon-gamma is a genetically engineered form of a substance normally produced by the body and is used to boost immune function. Patients 5 years of age and older with multiply drug-resistant tuberculosis may be eligible for this study. Participants will be admitted to either the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the Texas Center for Infectious Diseases in San Antonio or the South Texas Hospital or Valley Baptist Hospital, both in Harlingen, Texas. On admission, patients will have a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests, sputum culture, X-rays, pulmonary function tests and a computed tomography (CT) scan. CT produces 3-dimensional images of body tissues and organs in small sections. For the procedure, the patient lies still on a table surrounded by the scanner. All patients will continue treatment with anti-tuberculosis antibiotics during and after the study period and may elect whether or not to take gamma interferon in addition to the antibiotic. Five patients will receive only antibiotic treatment, and 5 each will receive one of 3 doses (0.025, 0.05 or 0.1 milligrams per square meter of body surface area) of interferon-gamma injected under the skin 3 times a week. The patient or caregiver will be taught to give the injections, which are similar to insulin injections for diabetes. Patients will be in isolation in the hospital from the start of therapy until sputum samples show no evidence of tuberculosis for 3 consecutive weeks. Following that, they will repeat the tests done on admission (except CT) during follow-up visits (1- to 2-day hospitalizations) at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months after the start of therapy. Patients taking interferon gamma will have blood drawn more frequently (monthly) for the first 6 months, and patients with lung infection will have sputum samples collected more frequently-weekly for the first 3 months or until three consecutive negative samples are obtained and then monthly throughout the course of therapy. Patients with lung infection will also have repeat CT scans at 6 and 12 months while on interferon gamma. In one or two patients on the drug, blood will be drawn frequently following one injection of gamma interferon (just before the injection and again at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours after it) to see if a difference in blood levels of the drug can be detected.

To evaluate and compare the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of long-term biweekly administration of 1 of 2 doses of aerosol pentamidine when used as a prophylactic agent in patients who have had multiple episodes of AIDS associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of Rheosorbilact®, solution for infusion ("Yuria-Pharm" LLC), in comparison with Ringer's Lactate, solution for infusion, in a complex therapy of pneumonia. Half of participants will receive Rheosorbilact® in complex therapy, while the other half will receive Ringer's Lactate in complex therapy.