Efficacy of amphotericin B lipid complex in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in immunosuppressed paediatric patients

The safety and efficacy of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) were evaluat ed in a retrospective study of 46 paediatric patients with invasive infecti ons. The study included a large proportion of patients who were refractory to or intolerant of conventional antifungal therapy. The mean age of the ch ildren was 9.7+/-4.8 years. Primary underlying conditions included mainly h aematopoietic stem cell transplantation, leukaemia and lung transplantation . The mean daily dose given was 4.11 mg/kg for a mean duration of 38.7 days . At the end of therapy, 38 of 46 (83%) patients responded successfully to treatment with ABLC, including 18 of 23 (78%) with aspergillosis and 17 of 19 (89%) with candidiasis. ABLC was well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events. The mean creatinine value was 74.5 mu mol/l at baseline an d 78.2 mu mol/l at the end of therapy. These results support the use of ABL C in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in children, including pat ients who have previously failed, or are intolerant of, traditional antifun gal regimens.