Salvage therapy with caspofungin for invasive aspergillosis: results from the caspofungin compassionate use study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to prospectively assess the efficacy and safety of caspofungin as salvage therapy for invasive aspergillosis in patients enrolled in the caspofungin compassionate-use study.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with invasive Aspergillus infections (36 with pulmonary infection, 12 with extrapulmonary or disseminated infection) were enrolled in this study. All patients were refractory to or intolerant of intravenous amphotericin B or a lipid amphotericin formulation(s). Efficacy was assessed at end of intravenous caspofungin therapy based on the clinical (symptom/sign and radiographic) response.


RESULTS
Underlying diseases included hematological malignancy (69%), organ transplant (8%), and AIDS (6%). Forty-three (90%) patients were refractory to prior antifungal treatment, including 25 patients refractory to multiple agents. Sixteen (33%) were neutropenic at study entry. Following caspofungin therapy, a favorable response was noted in 44% (20/45) of the patients, including nine (20%) and 11 (24%) patients with complete and partial responses, respectively. Caspofungin was generally well tolerated one serious drug-related adverse event was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, caspofungin was an effective alternative for patients with refractory Aspergillus infections.
Kartsonis
Nicholas A
NA
Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co., Inc., BL 3-4, PO Box 4, West Point, PA 19486-0004, USA. nicholas_kartsonis@merck.com
Saah
Alfred J
AJ
Joy Lipka
C
C
Taylor
Arlene F
AF
Sable
Carole A
CA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 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*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077336:Caspofungin; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D054714:Echinocandins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000077336:Caspofungin