title: Lipid-based amphotericin B in the treatment of cryptococcosis.
abstract: Amphotericin B is the only antifungal drug which, despite its dose-limiting toxicity, can be given intravenously when an aggressive treatment is required. In an attempt to reduce the drug toxicity while retaining its therapeutic efficacy, new formulations of amphotericin B have been developed. The most promising have employed lipid vehicles such as liposomes. Three lipid-based amphotericin B formulations have been developed by pharmaceutical companies and are under active clinical investigation. Efficacy and safety data of these derivatives in animals and humans are reviewed, with particular concern to cryptococcal infection. The authors' experience with a small unilamellar liposomal amphotericin B formulation, AmBisome, in the primary therapy of cryptococcosis is reported. Nine AIDS patients affected with cryptococcosis, seven of whom had meningitis, were given AmBisome (3 mg/kg/day) for 3-6 weeks. Complete response was obtained in six patients, marked improvement in two, and failure in one. AmBisome was well tolerated and shortened the time to clinical and mycological response suggesting a further improvement in the management of cryptococcosis in AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Micologia Medica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Viviani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzardini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tortorano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capetti
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roverselli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gringeri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suter
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B