2015/04/16 by Torsten Dahlén, Mats Kalin, Kerstin Cederlund +4
Medicine · #Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research #Antifungal resistance and susceptibility #Neutropenia and Cancer Infections
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/ejh.12565
openalex publication_date 2015/04/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
OBJECTIVE: Posaconazole prophylaxis during induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) and increase overall survival in a trial setting, but only small real-life studies have been published. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study including consecutive patients with AML/MDS treated with intensive induction chemotherapy; 176 patients received fluconazole prophylaxis 2008-2011 and 107 patients received posaconazole prophylaxis 2011-2013. Only proven and probable IFD according to the revised EORTC/MSG criteria were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The two cohorts were well matched without significant differences in patient characteristics. At day 100, patients receiving posaconazole had a significantly lower incidence of total IFD (0.9% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.01), invasive aspergillosis (0% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.02) and invasive candidiasis (0% vs. 4.0%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in overall survival, neither at day 100 (87% in the posaconazole group vs. 85% in the fluconazole group) nor at end of follow-up (78% vs. 77%). CONCLUSIONS: Posaconazole prophylaxis decreased the incidence of IFD but did not improve short-term overall survival. Improved treatment efficacy of manifest IFD is likely to explain the lack of survival benefit.