To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of amphotericin B plus flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) compared to amphotericin B alone for a first episode of acute cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients, and to compare the effectiveness and safety of fluconazole versus itraconazole.

At least 10 percent of patients with a low CD4 count and HIV infection will develop meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans. More effective treatments than the standard therapy need to be explored.

At least 10 percent of patients with a low CD4 count and HIV infection will develop meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans. More effective treatments than the standard therapy need to be explored.

Patients are selected by a randomization process to take amphotericin B intravenously (in the vein), for 14 days, and either placebo (ineffective substance) or flucytosine for 14 days. Then patients are again selected by a randomization process to take either (1) fluconazole for a total of 8 weeks plus itraconazole placebo; or (2) itraconazole for a total of 8 weeks plus fluconazole placebo.

Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

• Interruption of myelosuppressive therapies and/or administration of erythropoietin, at discretion of investigator, to maintain hemoglobin = or > 7 g/dl.
• Adjunctive corticosteroids may be administered during the triazole phase for patients who develop Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and meet the prescribed criteria.
• Hydrocortisone, not to exceed 50 mg/day, during the amphotericin phase.
• Aerosolized pentamidine or systemic chemoprophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia should be given to all patients with a CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3.
• Antiretroviral drugs (including zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), dideoxycytidine (ddC)) after patient has tolerated oral triazole for one week (after 3 weeks of study treatment).
• Maintenance treatment (except for rifamycins) for other opportunistic infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, cerebral toxoplasmosis or mycobacterial infections, provided that their hematologic and hepatic values are stable and they meet the entry criteria.

Concurrent Treatment:

Allowed:

- Transfusion, at discretion of investigator, to maintain hemoglobin = or > 7 g/dl.

Patients must have:

• HIV infection.
• Primary episode of acute cryptococcal meningitis.
• Willing to participate in the study for a full 10 weeks and either be able to give informed consent or have a family member or guardian able to give informed consent.

Prior Medication:

Allowed:

Fluconazole prophylaxis, not exceeding 200 mg/day.

Risk Behavior:

Allowed:

- History of high-risk behavior for HIV infection (bisexual or homosexual men, intravenous drug abusers) and their sexual partners.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:

• Inability to take oral medication (if necessary, flucytosine and flucytosine placebo may be administered via nasogastric tube during the amphotericin phase).
• History of hypersensitivity to imidazole or triazole compounds.
• Active hepatitis (viral, drug-induced, or other) defined by progressive worsening of hepatic enzymes to grade 3 or 4 toxicity on at least two occasions.
• Comatose.
• Concurrent CNS disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with assessment of response.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Continued treatment with H2 blockers (ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), omeprazole (Prilosec), nizatidine (Axid), famotidine (Pepcid)).
• Antacids and didanosine (ddI) within 2 hours of triazole administration.
• Rifampin, rifabutin (Ansamycin), and other rifamycin derivatives, phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, or carbamazepine (Tegretol).
• Other systemic antifungal agents.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• Amphotericin, > 1 mg/kg, or fluconazole or ketoconazole, > 1200 mg, as prior treatment for current primary episode of acute cryptococcal meningitis or treatment started for this episode more than 72 hours prior to enrollment into study.
• Phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, rifabutin (Ansamycin), rifampin or other rifamycins within the last 15 days.

Patients may not have:

• Inability to take oral medication (if necessary, flucytosine and flucytosine placebo may be administered via nasogastric tube during the amphotericin phase).
• History of hypersensitivity to imidazole or triazole compounds.
• Active hepatitis.
• Patients who are comatose.
• Concurrent CNS disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with assessment of response.