Shorter steroid course for lung infection in adults with HIV
Tests a shorter steroid course in adults with HIV and Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Short-term Steroid Therapy in Patients With P. Jirovecii Pneumonia Due to HIV / AIDS
Key facts
- Where
- México, MexicoSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with moderate or severe Pneumocystis pneumonia who are already on antibiotic and steroid treatment. It compares a shorter steroid course with the usual 21-day course.
- Age
- From 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Disease stage
- Moderate or severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), confirmed by a blood gas test at admission. APACHE score under 20 points at admission.
- Earlier treatment
- Must have started trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (15 to 20 mg / kg per day) within the first 24 hours after admission, and steroids within the first 48 hours.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Allergy to TMP/SMX that was not tolerated after desensitization
- History of chronic lung disease
- Past inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune or cancer disease that needs long-term steroids (Kaposi's sarcoma is the exception)
- Fluid around the lung or heart, or meningitis, from any cause
- Septic shock not related to PCP
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT03856229, who can take part
Where in Mexico
- Centro de Investigacion en Enfermedades InfecciosasMéxico, MexicoNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Centro de Investigación en. Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico
- Trial code
- NCT03856229
- Record updated
- 27 March 2026
- Original description
The treatment guidelines for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) suggest adding 40mg of prednisone (or its equivalent in methylprednisolone) twice per day on days 1 through 5, 40 mg days 6 through 10, and 20 mg daily on days 11 through 21 in subjects with moderate and serious PCP. Steroids have shown to improve clinical outcome and reduction in mortality in HIV-infected patients the effectiveness of adjuvant steroid treatment for PCP has been observed if it starts within the first 24 to 48 hours. Possibly, there is a long-term benefit with their use in the recovery of function and limitation of chronic pulmonary complications; recently, benefits have been observed in decreasing the incidence of Inflammatory Immune Reconstitution Syndrome (IRIS) due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. On the other hand, steroids could increase the morbidity related to adverse reactions as well as paradoxical worsening of associated herpes virus infection, which are attributed to IRIS or as a result of immunosuppression generated by their use. Recently, it has been shown that gradually steroids withdrawal is not necessary in patients who have received less than 21 days of treatment.Read full original descriptionShow less
Shortened Steroid Therapy in Patients With Moderate and Severe Pneumonia Due to P. Jirovecii Associated With HIV / AIDS
The treatment guidelines for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) suggest adding 40mg of prednisone (or its equivalent in methylprednisolone) twice per day on days 1 through 5, 40 mg days 6 through 10, and 20 mg daily on days 11 through 21 in subjects with moderate and serious PCP. Steroids have shown to improve clinical outcome and reduction in mortality in HIV-infected patients the effectiveness of adjuvant steroid treatment for PCP has been observed if it starts within the first 24 to 48 hours. Possibly, there is a long-term benefit with their use in the recovery of function and limitation of chronic pulmonary complications; recently, benefits have been observed in decreasing the incidence of Inflammatory Immune Reconstitution Syndrome (IRIS) due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. On the other hand, steroids could increase the morbidity related to adverse reactions as well as paradoxical worsening of associated herpes virus infection, which are attributed to IRIS or as a result of immunosuppression generated by their use. Recently, it has been shown that gradually steroids withdrawal is not necessary in patients who have received less than 21 days of treatment.
This non-inferiority work aims to confirm the null hypothesis that a reduced steroid scheme in patients with moderate PCP (8 days) and severe pneumonia (14 days) is sufficient to limit long-term ventilatory complications and acute postinflammatory syndrome, compared to the conventional 21-day scheme. It also has been hypothesized that it could be associated with fewer cases of IRIS due to herpes virus type 1,2,3 and 8.
Inclusion: Older than 18 years; To have a gasometry at the admission that confirms moderate or severe PCP; Patients receiving trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole in doses of 15 to 20 mg / kg per day from the first 24 hours after admission; Patients who have begun adjuvant treatment with steroids in the first 48 hours after admission; No history of chronic pulmonary disease; APACHE at hospitalization less than 20 points.
Exclusion: Allergic to TMP/SMX, who have not tolerated desensitization; History of inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune or neoplastic diseases except Kaposi's sarcoma, which merit the chronic use of steroids; Pleural or pericardial effusion and meningitis from any cause; Septic shock not related to PCP; Subjects who during the hospitalization have been diagnosed with any neoplasia (except Kaposi´s sarcoma).