Paromomycin: An Effective Treatment for Cryptosporidial Diarrhea in Patients with AIDS

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a common cause of diarrhea in patients with AIDS but remains one of the most challenging AIDS-related conditions to treat. We therefore carried out an open, uncontrolled, prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of oral paromomycin for the treatment of chronic diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium in 24 successive patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Twenty-two of the 24 patients responded clinically, with complete remission occurring in 18 cases and marked reduction of the diarrhea occurring in four. Clearance of cryptosporidia from stools and/or intestinal biopsy specimens occurred within 2–4 weeks. Furthermore, all 18 patients who achieved complete remission gained weight. Ten patients relapsed either during administration of maintenance therapy or after discontinuation of treatment, but diarrhea resolved again after increasing or restarting paromomycin therapy in all but two. Paromomycin appeared to be an active and well-tolerated treatment for cryptosporidiosis in patients with AIDS. Efficacy is dose-related, and continuous maintenance therapy is required to prevent relapses. These data suggest that paromomycin might be given as first-line therapy in AIDS-related cryptosporidiosis, but this should be confirmed by the findings of a controlled, randomized trial.