Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11;9(1):382 (abstract no. PO-B10-1483). Unique
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was obtained in Swiss mice (groups of 12)
by administration of prednisolone (40 mg/kg IP 2x/week) and of oral
oxytetracycline HCl (148 mg/l drinking water). This regimen started 3
weeks before therapy and was maintained during the 8 weeks of
therapeutic comparison. Mice were divided into 5 therapeutic groups. A:
oral water (control; B oral trimethoprim 0.8 mg/ml + sulfadoxine 4 mg/ml
at 0.25 ml 5x/week; C: oral sodium sulfadimidine 5 mg/ml at 0.25 ml
5x/week; D: desferrioxamine (DFO) at 100 mg/kg IM once per week; E:
iron-saturated DFO at 100 mg/kg IM once a week. After 8 weeks of
therapy, surviving mice were sacrificed and lung tissue examined for
presence (+) or absence (-) of P. carinii. Results (p versus A by chi
sq: *p < or = 0.05; ** p < or = 0.01): A (No. surviving = 11): 8+/3-; B
(10): 0+/10-**; C (12): 2+/10-*; D (9): 1+/8-*; E 6): 4+/2- (NS). In
conclusion, the iron chelator DFO is effective against experimental P.
carinii pneumonia, at a dosage 17 to 65 x lower than previously used
(Clarkson et al; 1990). This also confirms in vitro growth suppression
by DFO (Weinberg et al., 1991). Studies with other iron chelators are in
progress.
*Deferoxamine/THERAPEUTIC USE *Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/DRUG
THERAPY