title: Caspofungin: Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical uses and treatment outcomes.
abstract: Over the past decade, echinocandins have emerged as first-line antifungal agents for many Candida infections. The echinocandins have a unique mechanism of action, inhibiting the synthesis of β-1,3-d-glucan polymers, key components of the cell wall in pathogenic fungi. Caspofungin was the first echinocandin antifungal agent to become licensed for use. The objectives of this review are to summarize the existing published data on caspofungin, under the subject headings of chemistry and mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical studies, safety, drug interactions, dosing, and an overview of the drug's current place in therapy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , San Jose , CA , USA .|b California Institute for Medical Research , San Jose , CA , USA , and.
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: b California Institute for Medical Research , San Jose , CA , USA , and.|c Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine , Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford , CA , USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077336:Caspofungin; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D000077336:Caspofungin
keywords: Antifungal; caspofungin; fungal cell wall; glucan