Micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy in hematological patients: a retrospective, multicenter study in the Czech and Slovak Republics

Leuk Lymphoma. 2013 May;54(5):1042-7. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2012.729057. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Abstract

The objective of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy during febrile neutropenia (FN) in 73 hematological patients from six centers in two countries. All patients received 100 mg of micafungin/day. The overall favorable response rate (RR) was 64.8% when the resolution of fever during neutropenia was included in the response criteria and 84.5% when excluded. A significantly lower favorable RR in patients with persistent fever and non-specific pulmonary infiltrates compared to patients with persistent fever only (82.8 vs. 52.4%, respectively; p = 0.011) was not found when resolution of fever was not included in the composite endpoint criteria (93.1 vs. 78.6%, respectively; p = 0.180). Breakthrough fungal disease developed in 2.7% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 16.4% of cases. Only one patient (1.4%) discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. Posaconazole prophylaxis improved favorable RR when defervescence was included as composite endpoint criterion (p = 0.047), but not when it was excluded (p = 0.485). However, neutrophil recovery did not influence favorable RR (p = 0.803 and p = 0.112, respectively). These data suggest that micafungin is safe and effective as an empirical therapy in patients with FN.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antifungal Agents / adverse effects
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Czech Republic
  • Echinocandins / adverse effects
  • Echinocandins / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Fever / drug therapy*
  • Fever / etiology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides / adverse effects
  • Lipopeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Micafungin
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Slovakia
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Micafungin