Effects of Aerosolized Pentamidine on Lung Function During Long-Term Administration

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerosolized pentamidine as primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) on lung function. Nine consecutive HIV-positive patients, who inhaled pentamidine as primary prophylaxis against PCP, were studied monthly by means of lung function tests over a period of nine months (Group 1). Eleven patients receiving primary PCP prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (Group 2) were compared to Group 1. Lung function testing consisted of vital lung capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC), airway resistance (Raw), forced expiratory volume (FeV1), and CO-diffusion capacity (DLCO). We compared the results of lung function testing measured prior to inhalation of pentamidine to those three, six, and nine months after starting the pro-phylactic treatment within the two groups and between them. The results of this study showed that aerosolized pentamidine does not influence lung function; the data did not differ significantly either at month zero, three, six, and nine or between the two groups. This study suggests that aerosolized pentamidine has no effect on lung function during long-term administration.