Comparative clinical effectiveness of prophylactic voriconazole/posaconazole to fluconazole/itraconazole in patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy over a 12-year period

Haematologica. 2012 Mar;97(3):459-63. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2011.051995. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

Abstract

Post-induction aplasia for acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome is a high-risk period for invasive fungal diseases. The effectiveness of fluconazole, itraconazole solution, voriconazole and posaconazole prophylaxis used consecutively from December 1998 to January 2010 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy was retrospectively evaluated. A total of 216 consecutive patients received 573 prophylaxis courses. Breakthrough-invasive fungal disease incidence in fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole recipients was 25%, 16%, 14% and 3%, respectively. Voriconazole/posconazole versus fluconazole/itraconazole combined was associated with significant reductions in breakthrough-invasive fungal disease incidence (20% vs. 8%, P=0.011), premature discontinuations (46% vs. 22% P<0.001) and empiric antifungal treatment (31% vs. 8.5%, P<0.001). Microbiologically confirmed infections were molds. Posaconazole compared to other drugs was associated with fewer courses requiring computed-tomography (43% vs. 26%, P<0.001). Adoption of voriconazole/posaconazole has decreased invasive fungal disease incidence, empiric antifungal treatment and for posaconazole, computed-tomography demand, with effectiveness of posaconazole comparable to clinical trial experience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Fluconazole / pharmacokinetics
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / pharmacokinetics
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycoses / complications*
  • Mycoses / prevention & control*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / complications*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Itraconazole
  • posaconazole
  • Fluconazole
  • Voriconazole