Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
08:52

Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Published on: May 27, 2011

Voriconazole as primary antifungal prophylaxis in children undergoing allo-SCT

J R Molina1, J Serrano, J Sánchez-García

  • 1Department of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, and Instituto Maimonides Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC), University Hospital Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain. josehristomoli@yahoo.es

Bone Marrow Transplantation
|May 17, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Voriconazole effectively prevents invasive fungal disease in children undergoing stem cell transplants. This antifungal prophylaxis demonstrated safety and efficacy, with most patients completing treatment without IFD or significant adverse events.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Transplantation Medicine

Background:

  • Invasive fungal disease (IFD) poses a significant risk of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients post-allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT).
  • Effective antifungal prophylaxis is crucial to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of voriconazole as a primary antifungal prophylaxis in children undergoing allo-SCT.
  • To compare two different dosing regimens of voriconazole in this pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective pilot study involving 56 children (<18 years) undergoing allo-SCT.
  • Patients received voriconazole prophylaxis at 5 mg/kg or 7 mg/kg every 12 hours from day -1 to at least day +75 post-transplant.
  • Follow-up for IFD and adverse events was conducted for 6 months post-transplant.

Main Results:

  • 66.1% of patients completed voriconazole prophylaxis without IFD, empirical/preemptive antifungal therapy, or significant adverse effects.
  • 16.1% of children required additional antifungal therapy, and 1.8% developed fatal probable IFD.
  • 17.8% experienced voriconazole-related adverse effects, most commonly elevated hepatic enzymes, leading to withdrawal in some cases.
  • No significant differences in efficacy or safety were observed between the 5 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg dosing groups.

Conclusions:

  • Voriconazole can be safely and effectively utilized as primary antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric patients undergoing allo-SCT.
  • The observed adverse effect profile and efficacy support the use of voriconazole in this high-risk population.

More Related Videos

Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System10:24

Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System

Published on: October 5, 2015

Development of an IFN-&#947; ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation08:04

Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Published on: July 9, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...