Effects of aerosolized pentamidine on glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in HIV-positive patients: a controlled study. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Effects of aerosolized pentamidine on glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in HIV-positive patients: a controlled study.

AIDS. 1995 Aug;9(8):901-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96014964
Uzzan B; Bentata M; Campos J; Mosnier A; Krivitzky A; Perret GY; Modigliani E; Department of Pharmacology-Hormonology, Avicenne Hospital, CHU; Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France.


Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Intravenous pentamidine induces hypo- and hyperglycaemia (dose-dependent toxicity on islet beta cells), pancreatitis and nephrotoxicity. Conversely, aerosolized pentamidine (AP) is usually devoid of systemic side-effects: few reports of hypo- or hyperglycaemia have been published. Our study aimed to assess the influence on glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion of long-term exposure to AP used for prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-positive patients, and to compare the impact on insulin secretion of AP, whether administered for the first time or after prolonged monthly exposure. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional controlled study (main objective) and non-randomized prospective controlled study. PATIENTS: We compared glucose homeostasis and C peptide response to 1 mg intravenous glucagon in patients who had previously inhaled > or = 10 prophylactic aerosols (group 1, n = 21) and in HIV-positive controls (groups 2 and 3, n = 28) who had received none. Both groups were comparable for age and body-mass index, but CD4 T-lymphocyte counts and Karnofsky scores were both significantly higher in the control group. RESULTS: Fasting (T0) blood glucose, fructosamine and response to the first glucagon test were similar in both groups, but postprandial glucose, glycated haemoglobin and fasting C peptide were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the pentamidine group. A second glucagon test was performed on the same day, 3 h (T3) after AP inhalation in 35 patients (in 21 after > or = 10 aerosols, group 1; in 14 after the first, group 2) and in 14 HIV-positive controls (group 3). The only significant difference between the three groups in C peptide response to this second test was a lower peak T3/peak T0 ratio in group 1. Plasma amylase and creatinine were not altered by the aerosol. CONCLUSION: Long-term prophylactic exposure to AP had minor but significant effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion but did not modify pancreatic and renal function. The detrimental effects induced by long-term exposure to AP found in our study are probably not clinically relevant, but a more prolonged exposure to AP might conceivably induce more severe alterations.
Keywords: Administration, Inhalation Adult Aerosols AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL C-Peptide/BLOOD Cross-Sectional Studies Female Glucose/*METABOLISM Homeostasis/DRUG EFFECTS Human HIV Infections/*DRUG THERAPY/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Insulin/*SECRETION Islets of Langerhans/DRUG EFFECTS/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Male Pentamidine/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/*ADVERSE EFFECTS Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/PREVENTION & CONTROL Prospective Studies Retrospective Studies Time Factors CLINICAL TRIAL CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDadministration,inhalationadultaerosolsaids-relatedopportunisticinfections/prevention&controlc-peptide/bloodcross-sectionalstudiesfemaleglucose/KWDmetabolismhomeostasis/drugeffectshumanhivinfections/KWDdrugtherapy/physiopathologyinsulin/KWDsecretionisletsoflangerhans/drugeffects/physiopathologymalepentamidine/KWDadministration&dosage/KWDadverseeffectspneumonia,pneumocystiscarinii/prevention&controlprospectivestudiesretrospectivestudiestimefactorsclinicaltrialcontrolledclinicaltrialjournalarticle
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M9621065

Copyright © 1996 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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