title: Plasma fluoride level as a predictor of voriconazole-induced periostitis in patients with skeletal pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal medication used for prophylaxis or to treat invasive fungal infections. Inflammation of the periosteum resulting in skeletal pain, known as periostitis, is a reported side effect of long-term voriconazole therapy. The trifluorinated molecular structure of voriconazole suggests a possible link between excess fluoride and periostitis, as elevated blood fluoride has been reported among patients with periostitis who received voriconazole.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred sixty-four patients from Michigan were impacted by the multistate outbreak of fungal infections as a result of contaminated methylprednisolone injections. A retrospective study was conducted among 195 patients who received voriconazole therapy at St Joseph Mercy Hospital during this outbreak. Twenty-eight patients who received both bone scan and plasma fluoride measurements for skeletal pain were included in the statistical analyses. Increased tracer uptake on bone scan was considered positive for periostitis. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between plasma fluoride and bone scan results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood fluoride (P < .001), alkaline phosphatase (P = .020), daily voriconazole dose (P < .001), and cumulative voriconazole dose (P = .027) were significantly elevated in patients who had periostitis compared with those who did not. Discontinuation or dose reduction of voriconazole resulted in improvement of pain in 89% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High plasma fluoride levels coupled with skeletal pain among patients who are on long-term voriconazole therapy is highly suggestive of periostitis. Initial measurement of fluoride may be considered when bone scan is not readily available. Early detection should be sought, as discontinuation of voriconazole is effective at reversing the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
authors.forename: Woo J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suneja
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Livermore
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Joseph Mercy Hospital Section of Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: Anurag N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Malani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Joseph Mercy Hospital Section of Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moudgal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Lisa E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010522:Periostitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065819:Voriconazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D065819:Voriconazole; D005459:Fluorides; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: contaminated methylprednisolone injection; fluorosis; fungal infection; periostitis; voriconazole