Inclusion Criteria
Concurrent Medication:
Allowed:
- Concomitant medications for the treatment of complications of AIDS.
- CAUTION:
- Concomitant use of ddI with the following drugs must be done with extreme caution:
- Other nucleosides (e.g., ganciclovir).
- Drugs with toxicities similar to those observed with ddI (e.g., phenytoin).
- Drugs with significant pancreatic toxicities, including many drugs used for treatment of major opportunistic infections.
- Use of Sulfonamides or intravenous pentamidine for treatment of acute Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) requires discontinuation of ddI for a week following treatment of PCP.
- Caution should also be exercised with patients having intractable diarrhea or patients following a low sodium diet.
Patients must have the following:
- Diagnosis of AIDS. Demonstrated either significant deterioration despite parenteral dosing with zidovudine (AZT) or significant intolerance to AZT.
Signed informed consent by parent or legal guardian. Evaluations every 7-14 days while taking ddI for the first 4 months. Monthly follow-up is required thereafter.
Exclusion Criteria
Co-existing Condition:
Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:
- Acute pancreatitis or any history of pancreatitis.
- Seizures or a history of seizure disorder.
- Grade I or greater peripheral neuropathy.
- Preexisting cardiomyopathy.
Concurrent Medication:
Excluded:
- Zidovudine (AZT).
- Chemotherapy with cytotoxic agents.
- AVOID:
- Those agents that may cause pancreatitis such as:
- Pentamidine.
- Sulfonamides.
- Antituberculosis drugs.
- Cimetidine.
- Ranitidine.
- Corticosteroids.
- NOTE the cautionary statement in Patient Inclusion Concurrent Medication.
Patients with the following are excluded:
- Acute pancreatitis or any history of pancreatitis.
- Seizures or a history of seizure disorder.
- Grade I or greater peripheral neuropathy.
- Preexisting cardiomyopathy.
Prior Medication:
Excluded within 15 days of study entry:
- Any anti-retroviral except zidovudine (AZT).
Required: