Genetic polymorphisms of transient receptor potential melastatin 1 correlate with voriconazole-related visual adverse events

Systematic Review of Neuropsychiatric Toxicity in Second Generation Antifungals With an Illustrative Case Report

BACKGROUND

Second-generation triazole antifungals are extended-spectrum drugs that act against yeasts, molds, and dimorphic fungi. These agents include voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole. Voriconazole may cause neuropsychiatric toxicity such as hallucinations. However, regarding neuropsychiatric toxicity related to posaconazole and isavuconazole, the literature remains poor.

OBJECTIVE

The present study reports a case of neuropsychiatric toxicity induced by posaconazole and isavuconazole triazole antifungals as well as the results of a systematic review on neuropsychiatric toxicity related to second-generation triazole antifungals.

METHODS

A systematic search of Medline electronic databases used MeSH headings and equivalent terms for second-generation triazole antifungals, delirium, hallucinations, and neurotoxicity. The selection of relevant records was performed by 2 independent reviewers. Epidemiological studies, observational studies, and case reports were included.

RESULTS

A total of 20 articles were included in the systematic review, comprising 11 case reports and 9 observational studies. All observational studies were related to voriconazole neuropsychiatric toxicity, particularly hallucinations; the estimated frequency of occurrence varied from 13.9% to 24%. Putative mechanisms of second-generation triazole antifungals neuropsychiatric toxicity include a disruption of cholesterol homeostasis in the brain, an inhibition of transient receptor potential melastatin 1 in retinal cells, and a drug-induced phospholiposis. A supra-therapeutic blood concentration of these agents as well as a drug interaction could also be involved.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we reported for the first time, to our knowledge, a patient presenting with neuropsychiatric toxicity potentially related to posaconazole and isavuconazole. In a systematic review, we identified various mechanisms involved in the development of second-generation triazole antifungals neuropsychiatric toxicity. However, there remains to be extensive investigation.

Impact of cytochrome P450 2C19 polymorphisms on the clinical efficacy and safety of voriconazole: an update systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 polymorphisms on the clinical efficacy and safety of voriconazole.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and three Chinese databases from their inception to 18 March 2021 using a predefined search algorithm to identify relevant studies. Studies that reported voriconazole-treated patients and information on CYP2C19 polymorphisms were included. The efficacy outcome was success rate. The safety outcomes included overall adverse events, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies were included. Intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs) were associated with increased success rates compared with normal metabolizers (NMs) [risk ratio (RR), 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.34; I2 = 0%; P = 0.02; RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54; I2 = 0%; P = 0.01]. PMs were at increased risk of overall adverse events in comparison with NMs and IMs (RR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.35-3.53; I2 = 0%; P = 0.001; RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.23-2.64; I2 = 0%; P = 0.003). PMs demonstrated a trend towards an increased incidence of hepatotoxicity when compared with NMs (RR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.94-2.74; I2 = 27%; P = 0.08), although there was no statistically significant difference. In addition, there was no significant association between CYP2C19 polymorphisms and neurotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

IMs and PMs were at a significant higher success rate in comparison with NMs. PMs were significantly associated with an increased incidence of all adverse events compared with NMs and IMs. Researches are expected to further confirm these findings. Additionally, the relationship between hepatotoxicity and CYP2C19 polymorphisms deserves clinical attention.