Active clinical trials for "Pneumonia, Pneumocystis"

To compare the safety and efficacy of two dosage regimens (daily and thrice-weekly) of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP; TMS) in the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in high-risk HIV-infected patients. Previous tests have shown that SMX/TMP given daily is effective in preventing recurrence of PCP and may be effective in preventing PCP in patients who have never developed it. Because SMX/TMP can cause side effects, this study will attempt to determine the safest and most effective dose of this combination.

To evaluate the effectiveness of atovaquone (566C80) compared to a standard antipneumocystis agent, (SMX/TMP), for the treatment of mild to moderate Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS patients. To compare the safety of short-term (21 days) treatment with 566C80 and SMX/TMP in AIDS patients with an acute episode of PCP. Standard therapies for acute treatment of PCP involve either SMX/TMP or pentamidine isetionate. Although both treatments are equally effective, side effects prevent completion of therapy in 11-55 percent of patients.

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.

The objectives of this study are: To establish whether there is a difference in clinical effectiveness of Liposyn II 20 percent as compared with Liposyn III 2 percent in AIDS patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). To compare the effects of the two lipid emulsions on immunologic function in AIDS patients. To compare the effect of the two lipid emulsions on HIV load in AIDS patients as measured by reverse transcriptase (RT) in culture. To determine whether a decrease in HIV infectivity is greater in patients given a parenteral feeding regimen containing Liposyn II 20 percent or Liposyn III 2 percent.

To evaluate and compare the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of biweekly administration of aerosol pentamidine versus placebo when used as a prophylactic agent in patients who have recovered from their first episode of AIDS-associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and description of time to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) for long-term biweekly administration of 1 of 2 doses of aerosol pentamidine when used as a prophylactic agent in patients who have had one episode of AIDS-associated PCP.