REGIMEN INCLUDING CLARITHROMYCIN IN THE T REATMENT OF 173 AIDS PATIENTS WITH DISSEMINATED MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM INFECTIONS

No treatment was established for disseminated M. avium intra-cellulare (MAC) infection, a common disease of end stage of AIDS. An open study was conducted to assess in 173 AIDS patients, the activity of clarith romycin. Initial bacteriologic eradication from blood was observed in 136/147 evaluable patients (93%). Acquired resistance to clarithromyci n associated with relapse appeared to develop after 2 to 7 months of d rug treatment in 31/136 patients with initial success. Early bacteriol ogical relapse was associated with clinical deterioration. Side effect s of drug treatment were elevated liver enzymes (26%) and impaired hea ring (4%). Side effects conducted to stop treatment in 14 cases (8%) t o modified treatment in 8 cases (5%). Our study gave new argues for ac tivity of clarithromycin in disseminated MAC infection.