UTILITY OF INHALED PENTAMIDINE PROPHYLAXIS IN LUNG-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

The incidence of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) his been shown t o be high posttransplantation in the absence of prophylaxis. For this reason, lung transplant recipients routinely receive prophylaxis. We r eport on out results using aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis in nine patients post-lung transplantation (eight single lung transplants, on e double). The patients received monthly treatments of 300 mg of aeros olized pentamidine for a mean of 10.6 months (range, 4 to 21 months). Patients were routinely monitored with serial pulmonary function studi es and bronchoscopy as clinically indicated. Two of the patients exper ienced bronchospasm in response to the therapy. None of the patients e xperienced any episodes of PCP during the period of inhaled pentamidin e prophylaxis. Inhaled pentamidine is a safe and effective form of PCP prophylaxis and may be used instead of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim in patients who have a sulfa allergy or other untoward sulfa side effe cts.