Spiramycin Treatment for AIDS-Related Cryptosporidial Diarrhea

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: * Vitamin supplements. * Zidovudine (AZT) for patients previously taking AZT. However, dosing with spiramycin should be delayed until the dose of AZT has stabilized. The dose may be decreased for AZT-associated toxicity. Allowed for diarrhea: * Loperamide hydrochloride capsules (2 mg) or loperamide hydrochloride liquid (1 mg/5 ml). Allowed for nausea: * Sucralfate and metoclopramide hydrochloride. Allowed for vomiting: * Prochlorperazine and trimethobenzamide hydrochloride. * Allowed as prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP): * Aerosolized pentamidine. Patients must have: * A diagnosis of AIDS according to the CDC. * Chronic diarrhea. * Presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in stool specimen. Patients or a legally authorized representative must sign an informed consent form. Diet will be lactose free, maximum 7 g fat/day with unlimited calorie intake. Patients who require total parenteral nutrition will also be allowed oral intake. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following are excluded: * Grade 4 (for hematologic) or Grade 3 (for all other) toxicity. * Known sensitivity to macrolide antibiotics. * Presence of other diarrhea-causing pathogens. * Active opportunistic infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy. * Toxicity grades according to NIAID toxicity scale for adults. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: * Other investigational drugs. * Cancer chemotherapy. * Alpha interferon. * Other immunomodulating agents. * Other macrolide antibiotics. * Trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole. * Ganciclovir. * H2 blockers and AL-721. * Medications known to cause gastrointestinal irritation or alteration of gastrointestinal motility or absorption should be avoided if possible. * Zidovudine (AZT) therapy may not be initiated and the dose may not be increased during the study. Patients with the following are excluded: * Grade 4 (for hematologic) or Grade 3 (for all other) toxicity. * Known sensitivity to macrolide antibiotics. * Presence of other diarrhea-causing pathogens. * Active opportunistic infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy. * Toxicity grades according to NIAID toxicity scale for adults. Prior Medication: Excluded within 7 days of study entry: * Investigational drugs. Excluded within 14 days of study entry: * Cancer chemotherapy. * Alpha interferon. * Other immunomodulating agents. * Other macrolide antibiotics. * Trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole. * Ganciclovir.