Sequential treatment of deep fungal infections with amphotericin B deoxycholate and amphotericin B colloidal dispersion.

Amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD) is a novel lipid formulation of amphotericin B designed to diminish toxic effects of the drug. In the following report, nine cases of suspected (n = 4) and proven (n = 5) deep Candida infection, treated sequentially with amphotericin B deoxycholate and ABCD, are presented. The treatment was successful in seven cases. During treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate, a rise in serum creatinine was observed in seven patients, hypokalemia in five, and metabolic acidosis in four. After replacing amphotericin B deoxycholate with ABCD, laboratory parameters improved in four of the seven patients with increased creatinine, in four of the five patients with hypokalemia, and in two of the four patients with metabolic acidosis. Infusion-related rigors were observed in four patients receiving amphotericin B deoxycholate and in one patient treated with ABCD. Reversible elevation of liver enzymes was found in one patient receiving ABCD. In this study ABCD proved less toxic than amphotericin B deoxycholate. The efficacy of ABCD alone cannot be assessed because of previous treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate, but sequential treatment of deep Candida infections with amphotericin B deoxycholate and ABCD seems to be an effective therapeutic modality, especially in patients requiring prolonged administration of amphotericin B.