A Phase III Comparative Study of Dapsone / Trimethoprim and Clindamycin / Primaquine Versus Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate PCP in Patients With AIDS

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: * Erythropoietin. * Maintenance treatment with investigational triazoles (e.g., itraconazole). * Antiemetics for nausea/vomiting, antihistamines for rash/pruritus, antipyretics for systemic symptoms (fever, headache, etc.) should be used for treatment of symptoms. * Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents may be used for control of myalgias, headache, etc. Concurrent Treatment: Allowed: * Blood transfusions. Patients must have the following: * Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. * HIV infection. * Willing and able to sign informed consent. Patients under 18 years of age may enter with consent of parent or guardian. Prior Medication: Allowed: * Up to 24 hours of treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP), dapsone / trimethoprim, or clindamycin / primaquine, or one dose of pentamidine for this episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). * Prior PCP prophylaxis. Required: * Adjunctive prednisone therapy in patients with (A-a) DO2 of 35 - 45 torr receiving acute anti-PCP treatment. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following conditions and diseases are excluded: Positive screen for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. * Known NAD methemoglobin reductase deficiency and/or known hemoglobin M abnormality. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: * Zidovudine (AZT). * Ganciclovir. * GM-CSF or G-CSF. Rifampin. * Rifabutin. * Corticosteroids (in patients with baseline (A-a) DO2 \< 35 torr). Investigational drugs not specifically allowed. * Folinic acid. Patients with the following are excluded: * Previous dose-limiting intolerance to sulfones, trimethoprim, clindamycin, or primaquine. Requirement for other medications potentially effective in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (e.g., pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine). * Prior enrollment in ACTG 108. Presence of other concurrent pulmonary pathology that would make interpretation of response to antipneumocystis therapy difficult. Inability to take oral therapy. Prior Medication: Excluded: * Acute treatment doses of anti-Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia agents within 30 days prior to study entry except as noted above. * Systemic steroids above adrenal replacement doses within 7 days prior to study entry (except for patients with (A-a) DO2 of 35 - 45 torr who receive prednisone in conjunction with acute anti-PCP treatment).