Dapsone, Trimethoprim, and Sulfamethoxazole Plasma Levels during Treatment of Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Abstract

The interaction between dapsone and trimethoprim in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was studied. Measurement of drug levels as part of an open study of dapasone alone and randomized, double-blind comparison of trimethoprim-dapsone with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS was carried out in a county hospital and AIDS clinic. Eighteen patients treated with dapsone alone, 30 with trimethoprim-dapsone, and 30 with trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole were studied. Dapsone, 100 mg/d; trimethoprim, 20 mg/kg body weight per day, and sulfamethoxamole, 100 mg/kg.cntdot. d; were administered for 21 days. Concentrations of dapsone were 40% higher in patients treated with trimethoprim-dapsone than in those treated with dapsone alone (2.1 compared with 1.5 .mu.g/mL; P < 0.05). Trimethoprim-dapsone-treated patients had fewer treatment failures but more side effects and treatment terminations due to toxicity than those treated with dapsone alone. The concentration of trimethoprim was 48.4% higher in patients treated with trimethoprim-dapsone than in those treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, (18.4 compared with 12.4 .mu.g/mL; P < 0.05). Discontinuation of therapy due to toxicity was commoner in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group (57% compared with 30%). A bidirectional drug interaction exists between dapsone and trimethoprim, resulting in higher concentrations of each in the presence of the other.