[Clinical evaluation of fluconazole]

Clinical evaluation of fluconazole was performed on 12 cases of mycotic infections (7 cases of Candida esophagitis; one each case of cryptococcal meningitis with AIDS, Candida tropicalis fungemia and disseminated cryptococcosis in kidney transplant patient; 2 cases of Candida pneumonia). Satisfactory responses were obtained except 1 case of Candida pneumonia in which clinical efficacy could not be evaluated. Hiccup was noted in 1 case during the fluconazole treatment. No other adverse reaction was observed. When 150 mg and 200 mg of fluconazole were administered orally to a patient with hemodialysis (HD) after HD on separate occasions, concentrations of the drug in serum at 20 hours after ingestion were 5.9 micrograms/ml and 11.6 micrograms/ml, respectively, and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were 3.5 micrograms/ml and 9.2 micrograms/ml, respectively. Two clinical benefits were obtained in our studies. First, it was possible to treat the AIDS-patient as an outpatient with Candida esophagitis using orally administered fluconazole. Second, it was possible to treat the case of cryptococcal meningitis, in which relapse often occurs, to complete the therapy when the cryptococcal antigen in serum and CSF diminished to an undetectable level and to maintain the therapy preventing relapse without severe adverse effects. Ongoing and future clinical trials will define the specific roles of fluconazole more clearly in the treatment of systemic mycosis.