Amphotericin B and coccidioidomycosis.
Prior to the 1950s no effective therapy for coccidioidomycosis existed. The advent of amphotericin B ushered in the therapeutic era for coccidioidomycosis. Until this time amphotericin B and its lipid congeners have been regarded as the "gold standard" of therapy for severe pulmonary and disseminated coccidioidomycosis. The availability of azoles and later triazoles for the past three decades have relegated the amphotericins into a rescue mode, used mainly in widely disseminated cases, azole intolerance, or when there are contraindications to Azoles, such as pregnancy. In meningitis the intrathecal use of amphotericin B is still used frequently by some clinicians alone or with a triazole. The newer lipid preparations, while more expensive, have significantly reduced toxicity, particularly nephropathy.
Johnson
Royce H
RH
Kern Medical Center-Medicine, 1830 Flower Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305, USA. johnsonr@kernmedctr.com
Einstein
Hans E
HE
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000378:metabolism; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008055:Lipids; D014230:Triazoles; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D000666:Amphotericin B; C059765:amphotericin B, deoxycholate drug combination