CRIPTOSPORIDIOSI IN PAZIENTI HIV-POSITIVI: VALUTAZIONE TERAPEUTICA DI 12 CASI

Cryptosporidial infection in AIDS patients has a high mortality rate. This fact may be related to the absence of an effective therapy. In this report we want to study the clinical evolution of this opportunistic infection in AIDS patients, treated with different drugs. We have reviewed clinical records of 12 patients, HIV seropositive, with cryptosporidial infection. Early symptoms were loss of weight and diarrhoea, with an altered hydroelectrolytic balance. Stools examination allowed us to identify cryptosporidial oocysts (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, 100X). About therapy, we used, in different cycles and associations, spyramicin, erytromicin and clarithromicin, roxitromicin, α-DFMO and an analogous of somatostatin (octreotide). We obtained clinical and microbiological resolution in the patient treated with α-DFMO and, later, with octreotide, whereas the other patients presented poor clinical conditions. In these subjects we could not obtain the disappearance of Cryptosporidium spp. in the stools. Octreotide has demonstrated a fairly good efficacy. Our study confirms that no drugs can completely eradicate this pathogen.