A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL TOXOPLASMOSIS IN AIDS PATIENTS WITH TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE

Aims of the study: a retrospective study was designed to evaluate effi cacy and tolerance of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) in AIDS patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis (TE). Patients and methods: we r eviewed 471 patients with AIDS, and we analysed 71 AIDS patients with TE, who received intravenous therapy with TMP-SMZ (TMP: 10 mg/kg/day, SMZ: 50 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Results: 35 patients (49.2%) had a com plete regression of clinical signs, and a complete resolution of radio logical lesions was noted in 41 patients (57.7%). Improvement of clini cal signs and radiological lesions were observed in 27 patients (38%), and in nine patients (12.6%), respectively In contrast, nine patients (12.6%) did not show any clinical change, or worsened. Twenty-two pat ients (30.9%) suffered from adverse cutaneous reactions, whereas many patients had haematological toxicity. Conclusions: TMP-SMZ seems to be an efficient therapy for TE in AIDS patients, although further prospe ctive, randomized therapeutic trials are required to confirm these res ults.