COTRIMOXAZOLE IS EFFECTIVE AS PRIMARY PROPHYLAXIS FOR TOXOPLASMIC ENCEPHALITIS IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

In a case-control study, prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole for toxoplasmi c encephalitis (TE) in HIV-infected patients was evaluated, Cotrimoxaz ole had been given as PCP prophylaxis. 20 patients with TE mere identi fied and 72 matching control cases mere found. All patients had IgG-an tibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and CD4(+) T-cell counts less than or eq ual to 100/mu l. The use and duration of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis wer e recorded, It was found that among the patients with TE, none had use d cotrimoxazole for >70% of the observation time, and that the 1-y inc idence was 0% in the control group vs. 41% in those patients without s ufficient cotrimoxazole use, The conclusion is that cotrimoxazole is e ffective as primary prophylaxis for TE, even in a dose of 480 mg daily .