Intestinal crytosporidiosis treated with eflornithine: A prospective study among patients with AIDS

Twenty-two patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and severe debilitating diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium received eflornithine as therapy. Of 17 evaluable patients, 5 had complete resolution of diarrhea and negative follow-up stool examinations for Cryptosporidium. One patient responded but relapsed after cessation of therapy. Four patients had resolution of diarrhea and symptomatic improvement, but continued to excrete the organisms in feces. Seven patients did not respond to eflornithine therapy. Eflornithine may induce complete responses or palliation of diarrhea in some AIDS patients with intestinal cryptosporidiosis.