Real-World Experience of Voriconazole Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Background High rates of discontinuation of voriconazole (VCZ) antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) due to toxicities have been reported from single centers in allogeneic hematopoietic (allo-HCT) recipients. We sought to describe (i) adherence to AFP guidelines and (ii) reasons for premature VCZ discontinuation (D/C).Methods Retrospective review of 215 adult allo-HCT recipients from September 1, 2014–December 31, 2015 at our center. Per standards of care (SOC), patients received micafungin from Day 2 post-allo-HCT, then switched to VCZ by D7 unless contraindicated, and remained on AFP until cessation of immunosuppression or D100 for high-risk patients. AFP modification, D/C and treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) regardless of causality were captured through D100. Standard definitions were used for invasive fungal infections (IFI).ResultsOf 215 patients, 42 had contraindications to VCZ at baseline. Of 173 patients included in the analysis, 65 (37.6%) received ex vivo T-cell depleted (TCD) peripheral blood (PB), 15% cord and 47.4% conventional PB or marrow allografts. All TCD recipients received myeloablative conditioning (MA) and all cord recipients received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). For conventional transplant, 65.9 and 26.8% of the patients received RIC and MA, respectively. One hundred and sixty-eight (97%) patients had normal liver function tests (LFT) at VCZ initiation. One hundred and twenty-nine (74.6%) patients started VCZ by D7 and 95% started by D15. Median duration of VCZ AFP was 68D (IQR 22–91). Abnormal LFTs was the most frequently encountered TEAE (42/58, 72%), followed by neurologic/visual TEAE (11/58, 19%) leading to VCZ D/C. Median time to VCZ D/C due to neurologic/visual TEAE (4D, IQR 4–9) was significantly shorter than abnormal LFTs (25D, IQR 16–42) (P < 0.05). Eight (5%) breakthrough proven/probable IFIs were observed by D180, without significant difference based on transplant types or AFP duration. Duration and reasons for VCZ D/C were shown in Table 1 by HCT type.Conclusion 75% of the patients started VCZ per SOC and 95% by D15. Most TEAE leading to VCZ D/C were abnormal LFTs in all HCT types, and most commonly in cord HCT. 3) Neurologic/visual TEAE were similar across types. Rates of IFI were 3–4% in CONV and TCD and 12% in UCB.Disclosures Y. T. Huang, Merck & Co.: Grant Investigator, Research grant. M. A. Perales, Merck: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Investigator, Consulting fee and Research grant. Astella: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Investigator, Consulting fee and Research grant. G. Papanicolaou, Astellas Pharma: Consultant and Grant Investigator, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Merck &Co: DSC member and Investigator, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support