Trophozoite elimination in a rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by clinically achievable plasma deferoxamine concentrations.

In a rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, a 3-week infusion of deferoxamine producing concentrations in plasma of > or = 1.5 micrograms m-1 eliminated the trophozoite life cycle stage. Since this concentration is well below that routinely achieved in patients treated for iron overload, deferoxamine has promise as a therapy for AIDS-associated P.carinii pneumonia.