Refractory coccidioidomycosis treated with posaconazole.
BACKGROUND
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis (which is caused by the endemic fungi of the genus Coccidioides) can be a life-threatening systemic fungal infection. Although conventional antifungal therapies have activity against Coccidioides, the disease can be refractory to standard therapies. Drug-associated toxicities also may limit the clinical utility of the standard antifungal drugs. In addition, relapses in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis are common, making long-term management of this disease challenging.


METHODS
We report the outcomes of 6 patients with coccidioidomycosis who were treated with posaconazole salvage therapy after treatment with conventional antifungal therapies failed to produce sustained clinical improvement. Patients were administered posaconazole oral suspension 800 mg/day in divided doses as part of an open-label clinical trial. A modified version of the Mycoses Study Group Coccidioides scoring system was used to evaluate the burden of disease. Posaconazole therapy resulted in rapid clinical improvements in the signs and symptoms of coccidioidomycosis.


RESULTS
At the end of therapy, 5 of 6 patients had successful outcomes. Posaconazole was well tolerated despite long-term administration (1-2 years), and 2 patients continued to receive posaconazole maintenance therapy at the time of writing.


CONCLUSIONS
The successful outcomes observed in this case series suggest that posaconazole is an effective therapy for coccidioidomycosis.
Anstead
Gregory M
GM
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
Corcoran
Gavin
G
Lewis
James
J
Berg
Deborah
D
Graybill
John R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D014230:Triazoles; C101425:posaconazole