Poor efficacy of amphotericin B-based therapy in CNS aspergillosis.
Author(s): Schwartz S, Ruhnke M, Ribaud P, Reed E, Troke P, Thiel E
Affiliation(s): Medizinische Klinik III, Charite Campus Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universitat, Berlin, Germany. stefan.schwartz@charite.de
Publication date & source: 2007-05, Mycoses., 50(3):196-200.
Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
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