Antifungal treatment strategy in leukemia patients.

Abstract

Among the opportunistic infections in patients with leukemias systemic fungal infections contribute a major part if not the majority. This results from autopsy data and is supported clinically when using new criteria by imaging techniques, while microbiological documentation shows a low sensitivity in this situation. Those lessons require a change in strategy toward an earlier and empiric use of systemic antifungal drugs in the frequent infections appearing as fever of unknown origin. By its high systemic activity and low toxicity Fluconazole facilitates this approach. Amphotericin B with 5-Flucytosine remain as the most established standard. Liposomal Amphotericin B allowing higher dosage by lower toxicity appears effective as salvage treatment especially in aspergillosis which also responds to Itraconazole available as oral formulation so far.