title: Clinical and pharmacokinetic studies of continuous itraconazole for the treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: Itraconazole, a triazole antifungal agent, has been widely used for onychomycosis with high cure rates. Unchanged itraconazole and a major metabolite hydroxy-itraconazole reach the nail with a strong affinity for keratin. The aim of this study was to elucidate clinical effectiveness and pharmacokinetic profiles of a 6-month continuous itraconazole treatment at a daily dose of 100 mg. Nail growth, the decrease in nail turbidity, and the nail concentrations of unchanged- and hydroxy-itraconazole were investigated. The affected nails we examined demonstrated nail growth proportional to the decrease in turbidity and a quick increase in drug concentration with a long duration of a high concentration after cessation. Our results support the hypothesis that this continuous therapy is a good modality for onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama City, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aragane
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tezuka
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole