AIDS-RELATED DIARRHEA - A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF SACCHAROMYCES-BOULARDII

Citation
T. Saintmarc et al., AIDS-RELATED DIARRHEA - A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF SACCHAROMYCES-BOULARDII, La Semaine des hopitaux de Paris, 71(23-24), 1995, pp. 735-741
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, General & Internal
ISSN journal
00371777
Volume
71
Issue
23-24
Year of publication
1995
Pages
735 - 741
Database
ISI
SICI code
0037-1777(1995)71:23-24<735:AD-ADT>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Chronic AIDS-related diarrhea remains a problem because of its persist ence and variable response to available treatments. Saccharomyces boul ardii (Sb) is a nonpathogenic yeast used to treat diarrhea with gut mi croflora alterations. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel- group trial in 35 patients with Stage IV AIDS was conducted to evaluat e the efficacy of Sb in AIDS-related diarrhea unresponsive to standard therapy. Mean age was 34.9 years. Most patients were male. The cause of the diarrhea was identified in 54.3% of cases (cryptosporidiosis in 20%). Eighteen patients were assigned to Sb therapy and 17 to placebo therapy. The two groups were comparable at baseline. Resolution of di arrhea was recorded in 61% of Sb patients versus 12% of placebo patien ts after one week (p<0.002). Significant improvements were also noted in the Sb group regarding the daily diarrhea score based on stool numb er, weight, and volume (p<0.002); abdominal pain; abdominal distension ; asthenia; weight gain; and the Karnofsky index. Tolerability was out standing. Our data show that over a one-week period Sb is an effective symptomatic treatment for persistent AIDS-related diarrhea. The patho physiologic mechanism underlying this beneficial effect and the long-t erm efficacy of Sb remain to be determined. Sb was as effective in rel ieving diarrhea in this study as in previously published studies in ot her indications.