PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - SH Thomas
AU  - MJ O'Doherty
AU  - CJ Page
AU  - TO Nunan
AU  - NT Bateman
TI  - Which apparatus for inhaled pentamidine? A comparison of pulmonary deposition via eight nebulisers
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.93.04050616
DP  - 1991 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 616--622
VI  - 4
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/4/5/616.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/4/5/616.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1991 May 01; 4
AB  - Aerosolised pentamidine 300 mg in 5 or 6 ml solution was administered via 8 different nebuliser systems to 12 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Using 99mTc human serum albumin as an indirect marker for pentamidine, pulmonary, extrapulmonary (gastric and oropharyngeal) and alveolar deposition of pentamidine were measured using a gamma camera. Side effects (visual analogue scales) and changes in lung function associated with each treatment were also quantified. Deposition was completed more rapidly with the ultrasonic than the jet nebulisers. Mean total pulmonary depositions (mg +/- SEM) were Respirgard II, 6.1 +/- 0.5; Centimist, 7.3 +/- 1.0, System 22 Mizer, 14.3 +/- 2.1; System 22 Mizer with particle separator; 4.5 +/- 0.4; System 22 Mizer with Optimist 2, 6.3 +/- 0.9; Fisoneb, 6.0 +/- 1.2; Pentasonic (Portasonic); 4.6 +/- 0.9; Samsonic, 2.9 +/- 0.4. Differences between the nebulisers for peripheral lung and alveolar deposition reflected this pattern. Side effects scores were largest with System 22 Mizer, Pentasonic (Portasonic), and Fisoneb, and these produced the greatest oropharyngeal and gastric deposition. The largest reductions in lung function were associated with System 22 Mizer. A 300 mg dose of pentamidine nebulised via Respirgard II is known to be effective prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia when given once monthly. Our results show that equivalent pulmonary deposition can be produced by other nebulisers. System 22 Mizer gives over twice the deposition associated with Respirgard II, and used with a pentamidine dose of 150 mg is likely to produce an adequate lung dose for prophylaxis. This nebuliser, however, is associated with more marked side effects.