Poor efficacy of amphotericin B-based therapy in CNS aspergillosis.

Abstract

Recently, improved response and survival rates in patients treated with voriconazole and neurosurgery for central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis have been reported. We assessed retrospectively the outcome in 17 patients with definite or probable CNS aspergillosis treated with amphotericin B alone (n = 15) or in combination with 5-fluorocytosine (n = 3) or itraconazole (n = 2). Four patients underwent neurosurgery. The mortality rate was 100% with a median survival of only 10 days (range: 3-60) after onset of first symptoms or first radiological evidence of CNS aspergillosis. In conclusion, treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole has negligible efficacy in CNS aspergillosis.

• Authors: Stefan Schwartz, Markus Ruhnke, Patricia Ribaud, Elizabeth Reed, Peter Troke, Eckhard Thiel
• Journal: Mycoses (Mycoses) Vol. 50 Issue 3 Pg. 196-200 (May 2007) ISSN: 0933-7407 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17472616 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Itraconazole
• Amphotericin B
• Flucytosine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Amphotericin B (therapeutic use)
• Antifungal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Aspergillosis (drug therapy, microbiology, mortality)
• Aspergillus flavus (isolation & purification)
• Aspergillus fumigatus (isolation & purification)
• Central Nervous System Fungal Infections (drug therapy, microbiology, mortality)
• Child
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Flucytosine (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Itraconazole (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neuroaspergillosis (drug therapy, microbiology, mortality)
• Treatment Outcome