What can we learn from Mustafa's case?
Suspect early and initiate treatment to
prevent mortality2,18–20
Mortality rates associated with Cryptococcus
infections are often high, particularly when they
involve the CNS.2,18 Early diagnosis and prompt
initiation of optimal antifungal treatment are
essential to improving survival among patients with
cryptococcosis.19,20
Liposomal Amphotericin B is effective in
patients with HIV/AIDS with Cryptococcus
infections4
Liposomal Amphotericin B demonstrates
comparable efficacy to conventional amphotericin
B in patients with AIDS and acute cryptococcal
meningitis.*,**4
Liposomal Amphotericin B is associated with
reduced incidence of nephrotoxicity and infusion-
related reactions vs. conventional amphotericin B
in patients with AIDS and cryptococcal
meningitis.*,**,†4 Very common adverse events with
Liposomal Amphotericin B include hypokalaemia,
nausea, vomiting, rigors and pyrexia.1
*Prospective, randomised, multicentre, double-blind study in 267 patients with confirmed HIV infection and cryptococcal meningitis. Patients were
randomised (1:1:1) from multiple sites in the United States and Canada to receive either amphotericin B at 0.7 mg/kg/day (n=87), Liposomal
Amphotericin B at 3 mg/kg/day (n=86) or Liposomal Amphotericin B at 6 mg/kg/day (n=94).
**The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of mycological success at Week 2. CSF culture results were negative at 2 weeks in 47.5% of
patients who received amphotericin B, in 58.3% of those who received Liposomal Amphotericin B 3 mg/kg/day and in 48% of those who received
Liposomal Amphotericin B 6mg/kg/day, None of these differences were statistically significant (treatment difference for Liposomal Amphotericin B
3 mg/kg/day vs. amphotericin B, 10.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): -6.9%, 28.5%]; and treatment difference for Liposomal Amphotericin B
6 mg/kg/day vs. amphotericin B, 0.5% [95% CI: -16.4%, 17.3%]). The lower bounds of the 95% CIs for the treatment differences (Liposomal
Amphotericin B-amphotericin B) were all greater than 20% but not greater than 0.4
†The overall incidence of infusion-related reactions and nephrotoxicity was significantly lower
with Liposomal Amphotericin B compared with conventional AmB (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively).4
Consider Liposomal Amphotericin B as
part of your defence against cryptococcal
CNS infections4
Suspect early and initiate treatment to prevent mortality2,18–20
Liposomal Amphotericin B is effective in patients with HIV/AIDS with Cryptococcus infections4
Mortality rates associated with Cryptococcus infections are often high, particularly when they involve the CNS.2,18
Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of optimal antifungal treatment are essential to improving survival among patients with
cryptococcosis.19,20
Liposomal Amphotericin B demonstrates comparable efficacy to conventional amphotericin B in patients with AIDS and acute
cryptococcal meningitis.*,**4
Liposomal Amphotericin B is associated with reduced incidence of nephrotoxicity and infusion-related reactions vs.
conventional amphotericin B in patients with AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis.*,**,†4 Very common adverse events with
Liposomal Amphotericin B include hypokalaemia, nausea, vomiting, rigors and pyrexia.1
*Prospective, randomised, multicentre, double-blind study in 267 patients with confirmed HIV infection and cryptococcal meningitis. Patients were randomised (1:1:1) from multiple sites in the United States and
Canada to receive either amphotericin B at 0.7 mg/kg/day (n=87), Liposomal Amphotericin B at 3 mg/kg/day (n=86) or Liposomal Amphotericin B at 6 mg/kg/day (n=94).
**The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of mycological success at Week 2. CSF culture results were negative at 2 weeks in 47.5% of patients who received amphotericin B, in 58.3% of those who received
Liposomal Amphotericin B 3 mg/kg/day and in 48% of those who received Liposomal Amphotericin B 6mg/kg/day, None of these differences were statistically significant (treatment difference for Liposomal Amphotericin B
3 mg/kg/day vs. amphotericin B, 10.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): -6.9%, 28.5%]; and treatment difference for Liposomal Amphotericin B 6 mg/kg/day vs. amphotericin B, 0.5% [95% CI: -16.4%, 17.3%]). The lower
bounds of the 95% CIs for the treatment differences (Liposomal Amphotericin B-amphotericin B) were all greater than 20% but not greater than 0.4
†The overall incidence of infusion-related reactions and nephrotoxicity was significantly lower with Liposomal Amphotericin B compared with conventional AmB (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively).
What can we learn from Mustafa's case?
Consider Liposomal Amphotericin B as part of your defence against cryptococcal CNS infections4