Oral administration of itraconazole solution has superior efficacy in experimental oral and oesophageal candidiasis in mice than its intragastric administration.
OBJECTIVE
The therapeutic activities of cyclodextrin-associated itraconazole oral solution (itraconazole OS) by two administration routes in experimental oral and oesophageal candidiasis in mice were examined and compared.


METHODS
Using experimental oral and oesophageal candidiasis models in ICR mice, we investigated the efficacy of oral and intragastric administration of itraconazole OS and checked the concentration of itraconazole and its metabolite hydroxyitraconazole (OH-itraconazole) in tongues or oesophagus tissue after administration of itraconazole OS.


RESULTS
Oral administration of itraconazole OS at doses of 0.8, 4.0 or 20 mg/kg/day clearly decreased the number of viable Candida albicans cells in the oral cavity of mice with oral candidiasis in a dose-dependent manner at 3 days after infection. Intragastric administration of itraconazole OS at doses of 4 and 20 mg/kg/day once a day were also effective but to a lesser degree than that of oral administration. In the oesophageal candidiasis model, oral administration of itraconazole OS displayed superior therapeutic efficacy to the intragastric route. In coincidence with the greater efficacy, itraconazole was detected in lesional tissues after oral administration of itraconazole OS.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral administration of itraconazole OS displayed therapeutic efficacy against murine oral and oesophageal candidiasis superior to that achieved by intragastric administration. This can be explained by there being higher concentrations of itraconazole in tongues or oesophagus tissues after administration of the suspension by the oral route.
Ishibashi
Hiroko
H
Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan. hiroko_tei@umin.ac.jp
Uchida
Katsuhisa
K
Nishiyama
Yayoi
Y
Yamaguchi
Hideyo
H
Abe
Shigeru
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012996:Solutions; D013270:Stomach
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D012996:Solutions; D017964:Itraconazole