Potential utility of recombinant human GM-CSF as adjunctive treatment of refractory oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients.

The aim of the study was to investigate the use of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjunctive treatment for clinically refractory mucosal candidiasis in patients with advanced AIDS. Three patients with advanced AIDS and oropharyngeal candidiasis clinically refractory to azoles or amphotericin B received GM-CSF for 14 days along with either fluconazole or amphotericin B. All three patients showed clinical improvement and mycological improvement without any adverse events. Thus, GM-CSF may be a possible alternative as adjunctive therapy in the management of refractory mucosal candidiasis in patients with advanced AIDS.