To analyze tolerance to and microbiologic and clinical efficacy of Anidulafungin to treat Candida infections in liver transplant patients.
This phase 3b, prospective, open-label, single-center study focused on liver transplant patients with a suspected and/or diagnosed Candida infection. The patients received Anidulafungin intravenously, optionally followed by oral therapy with azoles. The primary endpoint was the global response at the end of therapy; secondary endpoints were the efficacy of intravenous therapy, 90-day survival, as well as tolerance for and interaction with immunosuppresants.
We considered 42 consecutive liver recipients transplanted between 2009 and 2010 among whom 13 (31 % ) were recruited for the study and four patients were treated with Anidulafungin as empirical therapy, six as preemptive therapy, and three as targeted treatment for documented candidemia (7.1 % ). The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of tacrolimus and low dose of steroids. The Candida species were: C albicans (50 % ), C glabrata (12.5 % ), C parapsilosis (12.5 % ), C krusei (12.5 % ), C lusitaniae (6.2 % ), C tropicalis (6.2 % ), and multiple others (25 % ). The principle site of isolation was the bile (53.8 % ), followed by the bloodstream (23.1 % ), central venous catheters (15.4 % ), bronchoalveolar lavage (15.4 % ), peritoneum (7.7 % ), and other locations (7.7 % ). Two patients (15.4 % ) died of severe sepsis with multiple organ failure. There was no alteration of hepatic enzymes, indices of cholestasis or changes in immunosuppressant drug levels.
Anidulafungin was an effective, safe, and well-tolerated drug. There were neither toxic effects to the grafts or adverse interactions with immunosuppresants.