Ketoconazole and fungal CAPD peritonitis

Fungal Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Peritonitis is one of the most frequent complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 1% – 15% of episodes are caused by fungal infections. The mortality rate of fungal peritonitis (FP) varies from 5% to 53%; failure to resume PD occurs in up to 40% of patients. The majority of these FP episodes are caused by Candida species. Candida albicans has historically been reported to be a more common cause than non-albicans Candida species, but in recent reports a shift has been observed and non-albicans Candida may now be more common. Unusual, often “nonpathogenic,” fungi are being increasingly reported as etiologic agents in FP. Clinical features of FP are not different from those of bacterial peritonitis. Phenotypic identification of fungi in clinical microbiology laboratories is often difficult and delayed. New molecular diagnostic techniques ( e.g., polymerase chain reaction) are being developed and evaluated, and may improve diagnosis and so facilitate early treatment of infected patients. Abdominal pain, abdominal pain with fever, and catheter left in situ are risk factors for mortality and technique failure in FP. In programs with high baseline rates of FP, nystatin prophylaxis may be beneficial. Each program must examine its own history of FP to decide whether prophylaxis would be beneficial. Catheter removal is indicated immediately after fungi are identified by Gram stain or culture in all patients with FP. Prolonged treatment with antifungal agents to determine response and attempt clearance is not encouraged. Antifungals should be continued for 10 days to 2 weeks after catheter removal. Attempts at reinsertion should be made only after waiting for 4 – 6 weeks.

Ketoconazole Pharmacokinetics in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Ketoconazole, a new oral drug, has minimal toxicity and a broad spectrum of antifungal activity. To determine its usefulness in fungal peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), we carried out nine pharmacokinetic studies in five patients on CAPD. Serum levels of ketoconazole in CAPD patients were lower than in normal controls, and some patients did not appear to absorb the drug. We did not detect ketoconazole in the peritoneal fluid of any patient, even in the presence of peritoneal inflammation. One should not use this agent in the treatment of fungal peritonitis at daily doses of 400 mg or less because such a dose achieves only poor peritoneal fluid concentrations.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has become an attractive alternative to hemodialysis for many patients with chronic renal failure. However, a major drawback with this technique is peritonitis (1). Although most of these infections are due to staphylococci (I), fungal peritonitis appears to be increasing as experience with CAPD grows (2,3). The treatment of such peritonitis is hampered by the poor penetration of amphotericin B into the peritoneal fluid (2), chemical peritonitis when amphotericin B is instilled directly into the cavity (3), and the limited spectrum of activity of flucytosine -a drug which readily penetrates into the peritoneal fluid (4).

Ketoconazole is less toxic than amphotericin B and easier to administer and it has a much broader antifungal spectrum than flucytosine. The value of ketoconazole in fungal peritonitis remains to be established, and we have only limited data concerning its penetration into the peritonal cavity (2, 5). In this study we assessed the serum and peritoneal-fluid levels of ketoconazole in patients on CAPD.

Pharmacokinetics of Antifungal Agents

The authors have evaluated the pharmacokinetics of four antifungal agents used in the therapy of fungal peritonitis. Amphotericin B (Amph B) poorly diffuses from blood into peritoneal fluid, which Intraperitoneal administration induces severe abdominal pain. 5-Fluorocytosine (5FC) easily crosses peritoneum, but resistance may appear when the drug is used alone. Ketoconazole (K) poorly penetrates into peritoneal fluid, while Fluconazole (F), used per os or intraperitoneally, shows a good antifungal activity both in serum and In the peritoneal fluid. In conclusion, from a pharmacokinetic point of view, all the antifungal agents examined, perhaps with the exception of F, do not offer, when used alone, sufficient guarantees In curing peritonitis. Therefore, for treating fungal infections in CAPD, drug combinations such as AmphB + 5FC, K + 5FC or 5FC + F have to be used.

Antimicrobial Treatment of Peritonitis Associated with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

A multitude of therapeutic regimens have been proposed for the management of peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). There are, however, few clinical trials that have evaluated the efficacy of these proposed regimens in a prospective, comparative fashion. This retrospective report is a tabulation of the published data on antimicrobial treatment of CAPD-related peritonitis. The results are presented for combination and mono-drug therapies; Gram-positive bacterial, Gram -negative bacterial and fungal infections; intravenous, oral and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes of drug administration; various dosages and dosing intervals; and clinical response and relapse rates. The apparent optimal combination regimen for empiric treatment of peritonitis is vancomycin administered in 1 dialysis exchange/week with ceftazidime. This regimen avoids the toxicity associated with the use of aminoglycosides while maintaining effectiveness.

Treatment of Fungal Peritonitis in CAPO Patients Using Peritoneal Lavage

This paper describes four CAPD patients with fungal peritonitis. The causative fungi were Candida albicans (twice), C. tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans. The infections were managed using the following regimen:

1 Removal of the Tenckhoff catheter.

2 Insertion of a temporary peritoneal catheter and commencement of peritoneal lavage, and administration of intraperitoneal miconazole and oral ketoconazole.

3 Insertion of a new Tenckhoff catheter after resolution of the peritonitis.

Three of these patients recovered.

We believe that it helps to remove the Tenckhoff catheter early and that, with our regimen, we can manage fungal peritonitis without suspending peritoneal dialysis. It appears that a combination of intraperitoneal miconazole and oral ketoconazole constitutes an effective antifungal therapy in CAPD peritonitis.

Infections in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Considering experience acquired in the past years, it seems as though physicians have reached a plateau in the frequency of peritonitis. A peritonitis rate of 1 every 2 patient years may be acceptable. Further reduction of this peritonitis rate will require inordinately large efforts on all fronts. One will have to consider what are the acceptable costs and risks of peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis. New developments in catheter technology, improved connections, better understanding of patient selection and training programs, improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the management of peritonitis, and understanding of the infectious and immune processes are eagerly awaited developments.

Effect of ketoconazole plus low-dose prednisone on progression of chronic renal failure

Patients with any of four different types of chronic renal failure (CRF) (glomerular disease, interstitial nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, or polycystic disease) were observed using sequential determinations of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Those whose GFR showed progression were either given ketoconazole 200 to 600 mg/d (to suppress cortisol production) plus prednisone 2.5 mg/d (to prevent anterior pituitary escape) and observed with the use of more GFRs, or were observed while four additional GFRs were determined before starting these drugs; some patients were subsequently withdrawn from these drugs and were observed using more GFRs. The effect of these drugs on rate of progression was estimated by a linear spline technique, using observations before, during, and (when available) after treatment. In 20 patients, sufficient data were obtained to estimate the magnitude of this effect. In seven patients with chronic glomerular disease, progressing at -0.62 +/- 0.12 mL/min/mo, progression slowed by 66% +/- 12% (P < 0.01). In five patients with interstitial nephritis of various etiologies, progressing at -1.19 +/- 0.34 mL/min/mo, progression slowed by 55% +/- 27% (P < 0.05). In five diabetic patients progressing at -1.22 +/- 0.14 mL/min/mo, progression slowed by an average of 77% +/- 14% (P < 0.01). In contrast, in four patients with polycystic kidney disease, progression accelerated by 99% +/- 63%. Mean urinary steroid excretion decreased significantly; plasma corticotropin did not increase. Neither proteinuria nor serum lipid levels changed. Urinary nitrate excretion decreased significantly, but serum nitrate did not change. Blood pressure decreased slightly (4.3 mm Hg). Three patients developed transiently elevated serum transaminase levels; two others withdrew because of side effects. We conclude that in chronic glomerular disease, diabetic nephropathy, and interstitial nephritis, this combination of drugs is as safe as ketoconazole in the absence of renal disease and shows promise of slowing progression. In polycystic kidney disease, it is apparently ineffective or harmful.

Candida peritonitis: successful treatment with CAPD in two patients

The authors treated seven patients with CAPD between September 1986 and December 1990. In two of them Candida peritonitis was observed. The pathogen proved to be Candida albicans in both cases. The traditional antimycotic treatment resulted in a temporary improvement in both patients; complete healing was only achieved after removal of the Tenckhoff catheter. Subsequently both patients were put to haemodialysis. Successful renal transplantation was performed two weeks and three months, respectively, after removal of the catheter. The authors' experience supports the opinion that removal of the Tenckhoff catheter constitutes the most important move in the management of Candida peritonitis.

Cryptococcal peritonitis in a CAPD patient

A 50-year-old diabetic woman with end-stage renal disease, who had been on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 8 months, developed peritonitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. The patient was completely asymptomatic and infection was confirmed by detection of budding yeast cells in Gram-stained smears of turbid peritoneal fluid. The infection was cleared after intravenous fluconazole with delayed removal of the catheter. Fluconazole may be a suitable alternative drug in treating cryptococcal peritonitis.

Pharmacokinetics of diltiazem in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The disposition of a single oral dose of diltiazem hydrochloride was studied in six male patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Peak concentrations were obtained 2 to 4 hours postdose. The mean absorption rate constant was 0.94 +/- 0.21 (sd) hr-1, and the mean elimination half-life was 3.09 +/- 1.16 hr. Serum levels of deacetyldiltiazem, a metabolite of diltiazem, were always below 10 ng/mL. The amounts of diltiazem and deacetyldiltiazem eliminated in dialysate over 24 hours represent less than 0.1% of the administered dose. The pharmacokinetic parameters of diltiazem determined in these patients did not differ from those determined in healthy volunteers and in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease.

Fungal peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a report of 17 cases

Seventeen cases of fungal peritonitis and one case of Nocardia asteroides peritonitis were observed in 141 patients during the first 5 years of our continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis program (CAPD). Fungal peritonitis accounted for 7% of the episodes of peritonitis observed in this interval. There were eight deaths associated with fungal peritonitis. In only three instances could factors predisposing to fungal peritonitis be identified. We were unable to predict who would develop fungal peritonitis by analysis of nutritional, demographic, or technical factors associated with the dialysis procedure. The diagnosis of fungal peritonitis was easily established using routine blood agar culture techniques. Successful management of these patients included prompt removal of the Tenckhoff catheter and intravenous (IV) administration of amphotericin.

Pharmacokinetic aspects during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a literature review

Since its introduction some years ago continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has proved to be a valuable alternative to haemodialysis in the treatment of uraemia. Factors contributing to the transport of solutes through the peritoneal membrane are discussed and the literature concerning the pharmacokinetic aspects of CAPD is reviewed.

Ketoconazole. Mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse reactions and therapeutic use

Ketoconazole is a well-tolerated oral antifungal agent with a broad spectrum of activity in vitro, but in vitro testing has not yet been correlated to in vivo results. In addition, many variables that can alter in vitro test results have been identified. The drug shows effectiveness in the treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, oral thrush, coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis. It was recently approved for use in blastomycosis. It is not yet approved for use in dermatophyte infections, but a large body of literature exists supporting this application. Ketoconazole has several reported drug interactions, including lower bioavailability with cimetidine, accumulation of cyclosporin during concurrent therapy and a possible disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. It is highly protein bound to albumin and is extensively metabolized. Dosage adjustment is not required in renal failure. The main side effects are gastrointestinal and occur in 5-10% of the patients. Rare side effects include gynecomastia and hepatotoxicity. The latter is reported to occur in 1 of 12,000 patients. Ketoconazole impairs testosterone synthesis, and therefore it is recommended that administration more than once daily be avoided in men. The usual dosage is 200-400 mg administered once daily. Few comparative or controlled studies have been published thus far. How it compares to amphotericin B is not known. The optimum dosage and the optimum duration of therapy are not established.