Continuous and 4 h infusion of amphotericin B: a comparative study involving high-risk haematology patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether a continuous infusion of amphotericin B (CI-AmB) is less nephrotoxic than a 4 h infusion in haematology patients with fever and neutropenia, including bone-marrow transplant recipients. Efficacy was assessed as a secondary end-point.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study over a 2 year period. A total of 1073 haematology admissions were reviewed (98.3% complete) and 81 admissions were eligible for study entry; 39 received CI-AmB and 42 a 4 h infusion of AmB.


RESULTS
Renal impairment occurred significantly less frequently with CI-AmB compared with a 4 h infusion of AmB [10% versus 45%, respectively, odds ratio (OR) 0.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.5, P < 0.001]. The difference was maintained among allogeneic transplant recipients (P = 0.007) and patients receiving concurrent nephrotoxic drugs (P < 0.001). An AmB infusion rate of <0.08 mg/kg/h was associated with a significant reduction in renal impairment (P < 0.001). A difference in survival was observed between the continuous and 4 h infusion of AmB (95% versus 79%, respectively, OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.02-25.1, P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
CI-AmB appears to be significantly less nephrotoxic than 4 h infusion AmB in haematology patients with fever and neutropenia--including high-risk bone-marrow transplant recipients--without increasing mortality. An AmB infusion rate of <0.08 mg/kg/h appears to be a safe threshold, associated with reduced renal impairment.
Peleg
A Y
AY
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A.Peleg@alfred.org.au
Woods
M L
ML
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B