Aerosol amphotericin B inhalations for prevention of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in neutropenic cancer patients.
To determine the value of aerosol amphotericin B inhalations for prevention of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), we initiated a prospective randomized multicenter trial. The scheduled intent-to-treat interim analysis included 115 patients (30%) with prolonged neutropenia after chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia/high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or solid tumors undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. Sixty-five patients had been randomized to receive prophylactic aerosol amphotericin B inhalations at a dose of 10 mg twice daily (group A); for the remaining 50 patients no aerosol amphotericin B prophylaxis was used (group B). No serious side effects from amphotericin B inhalations occurred, but coughing (54%), bad taste (51%), and nausea (37%) caused early cessation of aerosol amphotericin B prophylaxis in 23% (15/65) of courses. In group A, the incidence of proven, probably, or possible IPA was 5% (3/65) as compared with 12% (6/50) in group B (p > 0.05). Microbiologically documented bacterial pneumonias were observed in 5/65 (8%) patients in group A and in 1/50 (2%) patients in group B (p > 0.05). Thus, no reduction in incidence of IPA from use of prophylactic aerosol amphotericin B inhalations was found in this interim analysis. As there were no serious side effects from aerosol amphotericin B prophylaxis, accrual in the study will continue for a total of 380 patients.
Behre
G F
GF
Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Göttingen, Germany.
Schwartz
S
S
Lenz
K
K
Ludwig
W D
WD
Wandt
H
H
Schilling
E
E
Heinemann
V
V
Link
H
H
Trittin
A
A
Boenisch
O
O
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B