Fusidic Acid Treatment of HIV Infection: No Significant Effect in a Pilot Trial

Abstract

22 HIV-positive homosexual men were treated with fusidic acid tablets (500 mg t.i.d.) for a period of 2–12 months (mean 71/2). At entry, all had a CD4-count <500×10/1, and/or a pokeweed mitogen lymphocyte proliferation response of <50% of 2 normal controls, and no overt opportunistic infections. No significant immunological changes were observed and no definite beneficial clinical effect. On the 10th–13th day of treatment, 12 of the patients developed fever and an itchy exanthema. The symptoms disappeared spontaneously in 9 patients. No hematological or biochemical side effects were seen. Thus, in this pilot study of fusidic acid therapy of HIV-infected men, no significant effect could be detected.