Pentamidine

Pentamidine isethionate is an antimicrobial medication primarily given for prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, also formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a severe interstitial type of pneumonia often seen in patients with HIV infection. PCP is considered an 'opportunistic infection', endagering only immunodeficient patients such as those with HIV/AIDS. The mortality of untreated PCP is very high. Additionally, pentamidine has good clinical activity in treating Leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness caused by different strains of Trypanosoma, and yeast infections caused by the organism candida albicans. Pentamidine is also used as a prophylactic antibiotic for children undergoing treatment for leukaemia. The exact mechanism of its anti-protozoal action is unknown, despite the fact that its a basic therapeutic modality (in concurrence with multiple antifungal medications) when treating Acanthamoeba infections in the immunocompromised patients. The drug has also activity against in clinically relevant concentrations. In the United States, pentamidine is currently designated an orphan drug by the FDA.

Treatment of acute PCP

In the acute treatment of PCP, pentamidine is considered equally or slightly less active than co-trimoxazole (brand names Bactrim, Septrin, or Septra). Clinical evidence suggests that pentamidine is often better tolerated than co-trimoxazole because a high dose of co-trimoxazole is needed, which is associated with a high incidence and severity of side effects such as hepatitis, bone-marrow-damage, renal-damage, and life threatening skin disease (Lyell-syndrome). Moreover, many patients are or become allergic to co-trimoxazole. For treatment of PCP, 4 milligrams of pentamidine per kilogram of body weight is given intravenously once daily for 14 to 21 days. Treatment exceeding 21 days may be necessary, but is associated with increased toxicity. Intramuscular injection is not recommended. The effect of pentamidine often becomes evident within the first 2 days of treatment, with reduction in fever and improvement of respiratory function. In any case, improvements of chest x-ray studies occur within 6 to 8 days, provided therapy is successful. Pentamidine therapy cures 50 to 70% of all patients treated.

Primary and Secondary Prophylaxis of PCP

Primary prophylaxis of severely immunocompromised patients can be indicated where PCP has not yet been diagnosed. Secondary prophylaxis aims to prevent recurrent infections by PCP. For both forms of prophylaxis, an aerosolized formulation of pentamidine given by nebulizer once monthly in a dose of 300mg is used. In primary prophylaxis, this reduces the long term likelihood of PCP by 70% when compared to no prophylaxis.

Other Infections

For other indications, such as leishmaniasis or sleeping sickness, special treatment schedules developed by the WHO or CDC exist.

Contraindications

Severe allergy; no others in PCP patients in whom a proper diagnosis has been made

Side effects

Pentamidine can cause allergic and toxic side effects, which in part depend on the daily and/or cumulative dose:

Kidney : 25 percent develop signs of nephrotoxicity ranging from mild, asymptomatic azotemia (increased serum creatinine and urea) to irreversible renal failure. Ample fluids or intravenous hydration may prevent some nephrotoxicity.

Cardiovascular : Hypotension, which may be severe, severe or fatal arrhythmias and heart failure are quite frequent.

Gastrointestinal : Nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhoea, unpleasant taste

Pancreas : Hypoglycaemia that requires symptomatic treatment is frequently seen. On the other hand, pentamidine may cause or worsen diabetes mellitus.

Liver : Elevated liver enzymes are associated with intravenous use of pentamidine. Hepatomegaly and hepatitis have been encountered with long term prophylactic use of pentamidine inhalation.

Skin : Severe local reactions after extravasculation of intravenous solutions or following intramuscular injection treatment have been seen. Pentamidine itself may cause rash, or rarely Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Lyell syndrome.

Blood : Pentamidine frequently causes leukopaenia and less often thrombopaenia, which may cause symptomatic bleeding. Some cases of anaemia, possibly related to folic acid deficiency, have been described.

Neurological : Dizziness, drowsiness, neuralgia, confusion, hallucinations, seizures and other central side effects are reported.

Respiratory : Cough and bronchospasm, most frequently seen with inhalation.

Others : Eye discomfort, conjunctivitis, throat irritation, splenomegaly, Herxheimer reaction, electrolyte imbalances (eg. hypocalcemia).

Drug Interactions

The additional or sequential use of other nephrotoxic drugs like aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, capreomycin, colistin, polymyxin B, vancomycin, foscarnet, or cisplatin should be closely monitored, or whenever possible completely avoided.

Brand Names and Dose Forms

For oral inhalation : NebuPent 300mg Nebulizer

For parenteral treatment : Pentacrinat, Pentam 300, and Pentamidine isethionate for injection (Abbot); all containing 300mg of Pentamidine

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