High-dose fluconazole for treatment of cryptococcal disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The California Collaborative Treatment Group.
Eight patients (6, cryptococcal meningitis; 2, high-titer cryptococcal antigenemia) were treated with 800 mg/day fluconazole to assess the safety and efficacy of high-dose fluconazole as primary therapy. Five patients with meningitis had resolution of clinical symptoms and all 6 had negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures by day 82 (median, 21 days). One meningitis patient developed neurologic deterioration and was switched to amphotericin B at day 18, but CSF culture was negative on day 15 of fluconazole therapy. In 2 patients with cryptococcal antigenemia, clinical symptoms resolved and serum antigen titers declined rapidly; they did not progress to meningitis. Therapy was well tolerated, with mainly gastrointestinal side effects. Four patients had mild increases in liver enzymes; another had a threefold increase in alkaline phosphatase. Mean steady-state serum level of fluconazole was 45 +/- 15 micrograms/mL, and paired CSF and serum levels were 40 +/- 14 and 49 +/- 14 micrograms/mL, respectively. High-dose fluconazole appears safe and effective for cryptococcal disease in AIDS patients.
Haubrich
R H
RH
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego 92103.
Haghighat
D
D
Bozzette
S A
SA
Tilles
J
J
McCutchan
J A
JA
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D015725:Fluconazole