Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Clofazimine is useful in the treatment of Hansen's disease (leprosy) and some dermatological disorders, and is currently being used in drug regimens for patients with human immunodeficiency viral infections who are also infected with Mycobacterium avium complex. After an oral dose, absorption is variable, but when given in an oil-wax suspension is approximately 70%. Administration with food appears to increase the peak plasma drug concentration and reduce the time to peak level. Data on the volume of distribution and percentage or type of protein binding are not available; however, the drug undergoes extensive tissue distribution. Clofazimine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, but does cross the placenta, and is found in human breast milk. To date 3 urinary metabolites have been identified in man, but their biological activity is unknown. A substantial portion of the unchanged drug is excreted in faeces. The elimination half-life is variable, with values as long as 70 days being quoted in the literature. Frequently reported side effects of clofazimine are hyperpigmentation of the skin and conjunctiva, and abdominal pain. These resolve upon cessation of therapy. Biochemical and haematological adverse effects have been reported, but are generally not clinically relevant. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions of potential clinical significance have been observed with dapsone, oestrogen, rifampicin and vitamin A.
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PMID:Clinical pharmacokinetics of clofazimine. A review. 265 45

Two cases of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infections are described, and the diagnosis, clinical features, and management of MAC infections are reviewed. In case 1, a four-year-old boy was diagnosed as having both acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and disseminated MAC infection. He was treated with a combination of isoniazid, ethambutol hydrochloride, rifabutin, and clofazimine. Results of susceptibility testing showed that the MAC was susceptible to rifabutin and ethambutol with intermediate susceptibility to isoniazid. The child developed severe adverse effects that necessitated the discontinuation of rifabutin therapy. Despite therapy, blood cultures remained positive for MAC. The child died of disseminated human immunodeficiency virus and MAC infection. In case 2, a 20-month-old girl was found to have a prevertebral retropharyngeal mass caused by MAC. The child did not have evidence of immunologic deficiency. She was treated with streptomycin, ethambutol, clofazimine, and rifabutin. Streptomycin was discontinued after three months. After seven months the mass decreased in size, allowing for surgical resection. Intraoperative cultures were negative for mycobacteria. Ethambutol, rifabutin, and clofazimine were continued for a total of 12 months, at which time the child was determined to be clinically and radiologically cured. Empiric multidrug antituberculous therapy should be initiated in patients with suspected disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection because final isolation, identification, and susceptibility testing may take several weeks. Clofazimine and rifabutin, in combination with isoniazid and ethambutol, may be useful in the treatment of some MAC infections. At least four drugs are given, and regimens often consist of six drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in pediatric patients. 284 17

A randomized, prospective, open-label, treatment versus no treatment community-based clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of clofazimine as prophylaxis for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Subjects were 110 patients with a first episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia 2-4 months before enrollment or CD4 lymphocyte counts < or = 100/mm3; they were randomized to receive 50 mg of clofazimine daily or no treatment. Seven patients randomized to clofazimine developed disseminated MAC infection, compared with 6 patients receiving no treatment. Seventeen patients died: 9 in the treatment group and 8 receiving no treatment. Clofazimine at a dose of 50 mg/day is well tolerated by patients with HIV disease. Reduction in CD4 lymphocyte count to < 50/mm3 is a significant predictor of the development of disseminated MAC infection.
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PMID:Clofazimine as prophylaxis for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in AIDS. 850 40