PAROMOMYCIN FOR CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN AIDS - A PROSPECTIVE, DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL

To test the effects of paromomycin, 10 patients with AIDS and cryptosp oridiosis were randomized to paromomycin or placebo in a double-blind trial. After 14 days, patients were switched to the other treatment fo r 14 additional days. Measures included the number and character of ea ch stool and weekly 24-h stool specimens for weight and oocyst excreti on. During the paromomycin treatment phase, oocyst excretion decreased from 314 x 10(6) to 109 x 10(6)/24 h (P < .02). Oocyst excretion incr eased for the 4 patients initially on placebo compared to a median dec rease of 128 X 10(6)/24 h for the 6 initially treated with drug (P < . 02). Stool frequency also decreased more in those treated with drug (3 .6 fewer vs. 1.25 fewer/24 h, P < .05). Trends favored drug over place bo for stool weight, stool character, and Karnofsky score. Paromomycin treatment resulted in improvement in both clinical and parasitologic parameters in cryptosporidiosis in AIDS.