A Phase II Safety and Efficacy Study of Clarithromycin in the Treatment of Disseminated M. Avium Complex (MAC) Infections in Patients With AIDS

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: * Didanosine (ddI). * Dideoxycytidine (ddC). * Zidovudine (AZT). * Acetaminophen. * Acyclovir. * Fluconazole. * Erythropoietin (EPO). * Systemic Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis (aerosolized or oral pentamidine, trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole, or dapsone). * Maintenance ganciclovir therapy (permitted only if dose and clinical and laboratory parameters have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry). * Maintenance treatment for other opportunistic infections if the dose and clinical and laboratory parameters have been stable for 4 weeks prior to study entry. Patients must have: * Positive results for HIV by ELISA confirmed by another method. * Positive blood culture for Mycobacterium avium complex within 2 months of study entry and clinical symptoms of MAC infection. * Discontinued all mycobacterial drugs (approved and investigational) for at least 4 weeks prior to the start of drug therapy (with the exception of isoniazid prophylaxis which should be discontinued at Study Day minus 14 to Study Day minus 7 * Given written informed consent to participate in the trial. * Met the listed laboratory parameters in the pre-treatment visit. Prior Medication: Allowed: * Didanosine (ddI). * Deoxycytidine (ddC). * Zidovudine (AZT). * Acetaminophen. * Acyclovir. * Fluconazole. * Erythropoietin (EPO). * Systemic Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis (aerosolized or oral pentamidine, dapsone, trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole). * Maintenance ganciclovir therapy (permitted only if dose and clinical and laboratory parameters have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry). Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded: * Active opportunistic infections. Maintenance treatment for other opportunistic infections will be permitted if the dose and clinical and laboratory parameters have been stable for 4 weeks prior to study entry. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: * Aminoglycosides. * Ansamycin (rifabutin). * Quinolones. * Other macrolides. * Clofazimine. * Cytotoxic chemotherapy. * Rifampin. * Ethambutol. * Immunomodulators (except alpha interferon). * Investigational drugs (except ddI, ddC, and erythropoietin). Patients with the following are excluded: * History of allergy to macrolide antimicrobials. * Currently on active therapy with any anti-mycobacterial drugs listed in Exclusion Prior Medications. * Currently on active therapy with carbamazepine or theophylline, unless the investigator agrees to carefully monitor blood levels. * Inability to comply with the protocol or judged to be near imminent death by the investigator. * Active opportunistic infections. * Requiring any of the excluded concomitant medications. Prior Medication: Excluded for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry: * All anti-mycobacterial drugs (approved and investigational) with the exception of isoniazid prophylaxis, which should be discontinued at Study Day minus 14 to minus 7.