[Hepatic safety of itraconazole intravenous solution in treatment of invasive fungal infection].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hepatic safety of itraconazole intravenous solution in the treatment of invasive fungal infection.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with invasive fungal infection, such as pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and blood stream infection, caused by Aspergillus spp. Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida spp. Penicillium marneffei, and Prototheca wickerhamii, 50 of which had underlying diseases, including hepatic diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver etc. were treated with intravenous itraconazole for 12.6 days (2 - 42 days). Liver function test was conducted before and after the treatment. The relationship between liver adverse reaction and itraconazole treatment was evaluated.


RESULTS
Liver function test was abnormal in 20 patients. The patients with liver enzyme abnormalities before itraconazole treatment were easier to suffer from hepatic damage during itraconazole treatment (chi(2) = 11.54, P = 0.001). However, only in 2 patients with mild liver function test abnormality the liver adverse reaction could be associated with itraconazole treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Itraconazole treatment for invasive fungal infection is rather safe, even in the patients with underlying hepatic diseases. Liver function test is recommended for all patients suggestive of liver dysfunction and protective therapy for liver is needed.
Zhu
Li-ping
LP
Department of Infectious Diseases, Huanshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. zhulp@fudan.edu.cn
Yang
Fei-fei
FF
Weng
Xin-hua
XH
Huang
Yu-xian
YX
Chen
Shu
S
Shi
Guang-feng
GF
Lu
Qing
Q
Zhang
Wen-hong
WH
Zhang
Yong-xin
YX
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole