Article

Cutaneous sporotrichosis. Intermittent treatment (pulses) with itraconazole.

Dermatology Service & Mycology Department, Hospital General de México OD, Sánchez Azcona 317 int 202, Col del Valle, 03020 Mexito City, Mexico.
European journal of dermatology: EJD (impact factor: 2.53). 18(1):61-4. DOI:10.1684/ejd.2008.0312 pp.61-4
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous and exceptionally deep mycosis caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. Itraconazole is a triazole derivative leading to good results in the treatment of sporotrichosis. Patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis proven with mycological tests (direct examination and culture) were enrolled. All patients underwent laboratory tests (at baseline and on a monthly basis) and received oral itraconazole 400 mg/day for one week with a 3-week break (pulses); thereafter the drug was administered as pulses until clinical and mycological cure was achieved. Five patients with sporotrichosis were enrolled, 4 with cutaneous lymphangitic form and one with fixed cutaneous form. Clinical and mycological cure was achieved in 4/5 cases (80%), with a mean number of pulses of 3.5. No patient had side effects and no laboratory test abnormalities occurred. Intermittent or pulsed itraconazole was effective in treating cutaneous sporotrichosis. It may be considered as a new treatment choice that entails an important reduction in total medication use.

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Keywords

3-week break
 
Clinical
 
cutaneous sporotrichosis
 
direct examination
 
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laboratory test abnormalities
 
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mean number
 
monthly basis
 
mycological tests
 
new treatment choice
 
oral itraconazole 400 mg/day
 
patients
 
pulsed itraconazole
 
pulses
 
Sporothrix schenckii
 
Sporotrichosis
 
subcutaneous
 
total medication use
 
triazole derivative
 

Alexandro Bonifaz