Pulse itraconazole 400 mg daily in the treatment of chromoblastomycosis

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Published on: March 14, 2014

R Ungpakorn1, S Reangchainam

  • 1Mycology Department, Institute of Dermatology, Bangkok, Thailand. rataporn@health.morph.go.th

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|February 21, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pulse itraconazole therapy effectively treats chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. This regimen offers a more economical and compliant alternative to continuous dosing, with no observed side-effects.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection often caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi.
  • Treatment of chromoblastomycosis can be challenging, requiring prolonged therapy.
  • Conventional itraconazole dosing may present challenges with compliance and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pulse itraconazole regimen for treating chromoblastomycosis.
  • To assess the impact of disease duration and severity on treatment outcomes.
  • To compare the pulse regimen with conventional itraconazole therapy.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving six patients with chromoblastomycosis caused by F. pedrosoi.
  • Patients were treated with a pulse itraconazole regimen.
  • Treatment response was assessed over 12 months, with cure defined by absence of organisms on histology and culture.

Main Results:

  • Four out of six patients (66.7%) achieved cure within 12 months.
  • Two patients (33.3%) showed incomplete response, but one had over 50% improvement.
  • Disease duration and severity did not predict treatment response. No side-effects were reported.

Conclusions:

  • Pulse itraconazole is an effective and safe treatment for chromoblastomycosis caused by F. pedrosoi.
  • The pulse regimen is more economical and offers better compliance than continuous dosing.
  • Treatment should continue until fungal absence is histologically and culturally confirmed.

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