ITRACONAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF ASPERGILLOSIS - A STUDY OF 16 CASES

Itraconazole, a new triazole antifungal agent, has marked in vitro act ivity against filamentous fungi, particularly Aspergillus. We studied three groups of patients suffering from aspergillosis (16 cases): six affected with aspergilloma, three with allergic bronchopulmonary asper gillosis and seven with invasive aspergillosis. The survey consisted i n clinical, radiological, mycological and serological evaluations with respect to drug plasma levels. Itraconazole was given at a dosage of 200-400 mg day(-1) for periods ranging from 14 to 488 days. Out of the 16 patients, nine responded to therapy (recovery or improvement) and one failed to respond. Three patients improved but experienced relapse s and three others could not be evaluated because of liver function di sorders, so that treatment had to be stopped prematurely.