Atovaquone suspension for treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-infected patients

• Published in: AIDS (London) Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 211 - 214
• Main Authors: ROSENBERG, Daniel M, MCCARTHY, William, SLAVINSKY, Joseph, CHAN, Charles K. N, MONTANER, Julio, BRAUN, James, DOHN, Michael N, CALDWELL, Paul T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 26-01-2001
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - drug therapy; AIDS/HIV; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antifungal agents; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Atovaquone; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Naphthoquinones - therapeutic use; Pharmaceutical Solutions; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - drug therapy; Retrospective Studies; Tablets; Treatment Outcome; Human; Immunopathology; Lung disease; Opportunistic infection; Pneumonia; Atovaquone; Mycosis; Respiratory disease; Treatment efficiency; Pneumocystis carinii; AIDS; Suspension; Immune deficiency; Fungi; Infection; Antifungal agent; Treatment; Viral disease; Dosage form; Complication; Fungi Imperfecti; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0269-9370; 1473-5571
• DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200101260-00010

To describe clinical experience with atovaquone suspension for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-infected patients.
A retrospective chart review.
The medical records of 54 HIV-infected patients with PCP treated with atovaquone were examined. The outcomes of 34 patients treated with atovaquone suspension (750 mg twice a day) were compared with those of 20 patients treated with atovaquone tablets (750 mg three times a day).
The proportion of patients successfully treated was similar with the suspension (74%) and tablet (70%) formulations of atovaquone. The proportion of patients with an inadequate response to therapy was lower for patients treated with atovaquone suspension (15%) than tablets (30%). Both formulations were well tolerated.
Atovaquone suspension is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of PCP.