title: Refractory coccidioidomycosis treated with posaconazole.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Anstead
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Graybill
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D014230:Triazoles; C101425:posaconazole