Voriconazole as primary antifungal prophylaxis in children undergoing allo-SCT

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2012 Apr;47(4):562-7. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2011.111. Epub 2011 May 16.

Abstract

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) causes significant morbidity and mortality among children undergoing allo-SCT. In this prospective pilot study, we analyze voriconazole as primary antifungal prophylaxis. From October 2004 to July 2010, 56 children <18 years of age were enrolled in this study. Patients received voriconazole doses of 5 mg/kg per 12 h (n=23) or 7 mg/kg per 12 h (n=33), with a limiting dose of 200 mg/12 h, from day -1 to day +75 or later in patients with active acute GVHD. Patients were followed up for IFD for 6 months. In this series, 37 (66.1%) patients successfully completed treatment (85.7% during neutropenic period) without empirical or preemptive antifungal therapy, adverse effects or IFD. Nine (16.1%) children needed preemptive (n=2) or empirical (n=7) antifungal therapy, and one (1.8%) of them developed a fatal probable IFD during the study period. A total of 10 (17.8%) children developed adverse effects related to voriconazole prophylaxis, leading to definitive withdrawal on median day 26.5 (in 7 patients after granulocytic recovery). The most frequent adverse effect was persistent elevation of hepatic enzymes in seven (12.5%) children. There were no differences between doses of 5 and 7 mg/kg per 12 h. Our results suggest that voriconazole can be safely used as primary antifungal prophylaxis in children undergoing allo-SCT.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antifungal Agents / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy
  • Hematologic Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycoses / prevention & control*
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidines / adverse effects
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Time Factors
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage*
  • Triazoles / adverse effects
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Voriconazole