[Intolerance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS. Search for predictive factors].

The treatment and the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is based on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. However, hypersensitivity reactions occur often in HIV-infected patients. In this study, clinical and biological parameters of 27 PCP-patients treated by this drug association were analyzed. We divided the drug reactions into two groups according to the severity. A drug reaction occurred in 59.2% of the patients and was note as a mild reaction in 18.5% of the cases and as a severe reaction in 40.7%. An initial high eosinophil count was noted in patients who may present future drug reaction. This difference was more significant in patients who may present severe drug reaction. No other clinical or biological factors were predictive of hypersensitivity. The immune status of HIV-disease, drug therapy, and drug mechanisms were discussed.