Caspofungin plus posaconazole as salvage therapy of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. 2011

Heinrich Lellek, and Dirk Waldenmaier, and Joachim Dahlke, and Francis Ayketang Ayuk, and Christine Wolschke, and Nicolaus Kröger, and Axel R Zander
Clinic for Stem Cell Transplantation, Center of Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major cause of mortality in immunocompromised patients. Substantial improvements of treatment have been achieved by the introduction of new antifungal agents including azoles (e.g. posaconazole) and echinocandins (e.g. caspofungin). However, mortality associated with treatment-refractory aspergillosis remains high. Preliminary data suggest that the combination of azoles and echinocandins may increase activity against refractory IA. The objective of the present study was to evaluate efficiency and safety of caspofungin plus posaconazole for salvage therapy in immunocompromised patients. In this monocentric, retrospective study, 31 hospitalised haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with IA refractory to primary treatment were treated with a combination therapy of caspofungin 50 mg a day and posaconazole 200 mg four times per day. Efficacy was assessed by signs, symptoms and the degree of pulmonary infiltrate regression. A favourable response was seen in the majority of patients (77%). In two patients (6%), clinical improvement, but no decline in pulmonary infiltrates, was observed. Five patients (16%) did not respond to combination therapy with a fatal outcome in four of them. Combination therapy was well tolerated. No patient discontinued treatment due to toxicity. This study indicates that the combination of caspofungin and posaconazole may provide an effective and tolerable therapy of IA in immunocompromised patients refractory to primary treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077336 Caspofungin A cyclic lipopeptide echinocandin and beta-(1,3)-D-glucan synthase inhibitor that is used to treat internal or systemic MYCOSES. Cancidas,Caspofungin Acetate,Caspofungin MSD,L 743,872,L 743872,L-743,872,L-743872,MK 0991,MK-0991,L743,872,L743872,MK0991
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000935 Antifungal Agents Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues. Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics

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