title: Experience with itraconazole in cryptococcosis and aspergillosis.
abstract: Cryptococcosis and aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients are extremely difficult clinical conditions to manage and treatment with available antifungal drugs often fails. Itraconazole, R-51211, Janssen Pharmaceutica, a new orally absorbed triazole, is a possible alternative drug which is potentially effective and nontoxic. Preliminary experience with 28 patients, eight with cryptococcosis and 20 with aspergillosis, is reported. Of these patients, 16 were immunocompromised (seven with the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), five heart transplant recipients and four with leukaemia or lymphoma). Overall, results of treatment were good (18 in remission, four markedly improved, four moderately improved and two failed). Prevention of relapses of cryptococcosis was obtained in all patients with AIDS on long-term itraconazole monotherapy (3 mg/kg). Treatment of invasive aspergillosis required a higher dosage (about 5 mg/kg) and prolonged administration. Besides its efficacy this antifungal agent allowed outpatient management.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale Maggiore, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Viviani
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tortorano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almaviva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cristina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scoccia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiocchi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrazzi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004194:Disease; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D017964:Itraconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; D007654:Ketoconazole