Taking the material for sowing and other laboratory tests (serology, histopathology) for the purpose of isolating and identifying pathogens should be performed before the start of treatment. Treatment can begin before the results of laboratory tests. However, after receiving these results, it is necessary to adjust the antifungal therapy.
The types that most often cause infection in humans include FROM. albicans, FROM. parapsilosis, FROM. tropicalis, FROM. glabrata and FROM. torusei, while for all of them the minimal suppressive concentration (MIC) of voriconazole is usually less than 1 mg / ml. but in vitro voriconazole activity against fungi of different species Candida is not the same.In particular, the MIC of voriconazole for fluconazole-resistant isolates FROM. glabrata is proportionally higher than the MIC for isolates sensitive to fluconazole. In connection with this, fungi of the genus Candida in all possible cases, identify to the species level. If it is possible to determine the sensitivity of fungi to antifungal drugs, the values of the MIC should be interpreted using threshold criteria.
Undesirable effects from the cardiovascular system
The use of voriconazole is associated with lengthening of the interval QT on an electrocardiogram, which is accompanied by rare cases of ventricular fibrillation / flutter in severely ill patients with multiple risk factors, such as cardiotoxic chemotherapy, cardiomyopathy, hypokalemia and concomitant therapy, which could contribute to the development of this complication.
Voriconazole should be used with caution in patients with the following potentially proarrhythmic conditions:
- congenital or acquired lengthening interval QT;
- Cardiomyopathy, especially in combination with heart failure;
- sinus bradycardia;
- existing arrhythmias with clinical manifestations;
- simultaneous use of drugs that extend the interval QT (see section "Interaction with other drugs").
Electrolyte disorders, for example, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia, if necessary, should be monitored and eliminated before and during therapy with voriconazole.
When tested on healthy volunteers, the effects of voriconazole on the interval QT on the ECG using single doses exceeding the usual daily dose no more than 4 times, it was found that none of the subjects had an increase in the interval QT at 60 or more milliseconds from the norm. Also, none of the subjects had an exceedance of the interval above the clinically significant threshold of 500 msec.
Hepatotoxicity
The frequency of a clinically significant increase in the activity of "liver" transaminases in patients receiving voriconazole, is 13.4%. In most cases, the liver function parameters are normalized both during the continuation of treatment without changing the dose or after its correction, and after the cessation of therapy.With the use of voriconazole, cases of severe hepatotoxicity (jaundice, hepatitis and hepatic cell failure leading to death) were rare in patients with serious underlying diseases.
Undesirable phenomena from the liver are observed, mainly, in patients with serious diseases, mainly malignant blood tumors. Patients without any risk factors have transient liver reactions, including hepatitis and jaundice. Dysfunction of the liver is usually reversible and pass after discontinuation of treatment.
Monitoring of liver function
During treatment with voriconazole, it is recommended to constantly monitor liver function in both children and adults. Clinical management of such patients should include a laboratory assessment of liver function (in particular, activity determination ACT and ALT) at the beginning of treatment with voriconazole and at least once a week during the first month of therapy. In the case of continuation of treatment in the absence of changes in the biochemical parameters of liver function, the frequency of laboratory testing can be reduced to once a month.With a marked increase in biochemical parameters of liver function voriconazole should be discarded, unless the benefit-risk ratio of therapy according to the medical evaluation does not justify its continued use (see "Application and dose" section).
Visual disorders
In the treatment with voriconazole, approximately 21% of patients have visual impairment: blurred vision, changes in color vision or photophobia. Visual disturbances are transient and completely reversible; in most cases they spontaneously disappear within 60 minutes. With repeated use of voriconazole, there is a weakening of their severity. Visual disturbances are usually easily expressed, rarely require discontinuation of treatment and do not lead to any remote consequences.
The mechanism of development of visual disturbances is unknown. Determined that voriconazole reduces the amplitude of waves on the electroretinogram (ERG) in healthy volunteers. These changes do not grow ERG with continued treatment for 29 days and completely disappeared after withdrawal of voriconazole.
Long-term therapy with voriconazole (an average of 169 days) in patients with paracoccidioidosishad a clinically significant effect on visual function, which was confirmed by the results of tests for visual acuity, visual fields, color perception and contrast sensitivity.
According to post-marketing research, there are reports of the development of cases of visual disturbances that persist for a long time, in particular, the appearance of a "veil" before the eyes, optic neuritis and edema of the optic disc. It should be noted that these disorders develop most often in seriously ill patients and / or receiving concomitant therapy, which can cause such undesirable phenomena.
Undesirable effects of the kidneys
In seriously ill patients receiving voriconazole, there were cases of development of acute renal failure, which was probably associated with therapy of primary or concomitant diseases with nephrotoxic drugs.
Monitoring of kidney function. Patients should be observed to identify signs of impaired renal function. To do this, it is necessary to conduct laboratory tests, in particular, to determine the concentration of creatinine in the blood serum (see section "Method of administration and dose").
Monitoring of pancreatic function
Adults and children with risk factors for acute pancreatitis (recent chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) should undergo a screening (determination of amylase and lipase activity in the blood serum) to address the issue of voriconazole therapy.
Undesirable skin effects
When voriconazole therapy often develop skin reactions, mostly in patients with serious underlying diseases, while taking other medicines. In most cases, a mild to moderate skin rash was noted.
During treatment with voriconazole, patients experienced rare cases of exfoliative skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If the patient develops exfoliative skin reactions, then voriconazole should be canceled. Since during the therapy with voriconazole the development of photosensitization is possible, during treatment, patients (including children) are advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and take protective measures such as wearing clothes and applying sunscreens with a high UV-protection factorSPF).
Long-term treatment
In patients with skin photosensitivity reactions and additional risk factors, the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and melanoma against a background of prolonged therapy is reported. If a patient experiences phototoxic reactions, he should be consulted by appropriate specialists and sent to a dermatologist. Voriconazole should be considered. With the continuation of therapy with voriconazole, despite the occurrence of phototoxic skin lesions, the patient should regularly undergo a dermatological examination for the early detection and treatment of precancerous skin diseases. If the patient develops skin lesions associated with precancerous skin diseases, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or melanoma, consideration should be given to discontinuing voriconazole therapy.
Noninfectious periostitis
There have been reports of cases of periostitis in patients after transplantation receiving long-term therapy with voriconazole. The therapy with voriconazole should be discontinued if the patient has bone pain and the radiograph shows changes that are characteristic of periostitis.
Use in children
Voriconazole is indicated for use in children aged 3 years (for a given dosage form) and older with continuous monitoring of liver function. In children, an increase in the activity of liver enzymes is more common. Bioavailability of voriconazole for oral administration in children aged 3 (for a given dosage form) to 12 years can be reduced by impaired absorption or decreased body weight. In such cases intravenous administration of voriconazole is indicated.
The frequency of phototoxic reactions in children is higher. Due to the fact that phototoxic lesions can degenerate into squamous cell carcinoma (PKC), children should take strict measures to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Children with signs of photoaging of the skin, such as lentigo or freckles, are advised to avoid the sun and be examined by a dermatologist even after discontinuation of treatment.
Narcotic analgesics of short action (substrates of isoenzyme CYP3A4)
Since the half-life of alfentanil when it is used simultaneously with voriconazole is increased 4-fold, careful monitoring of undesirable phenomena associated with the use of narcotic analgesics,including longer monitoring of respiratory function.
Long-acting narcotic analgesics (substrates isoenzyme CYP3A4)
It should be possible to reduce the dose of oxycodone and other long-acting narcotic analgesics, which are metabolized by the isoenzyme CYP3A4 (hydrocodone) with simultaneous application with voriconazole. It is necessary to carefully monitor undesirable phenomena associated with the use of narcotic analgesics (see section "Interaction with other drugs").
Phenytoin (powerful cytochrome P450 inducer and isoenzyme substrate CYP2C9)
With the simultaneous use of phenytoin and voriconazole, it is recommended that the concentration of phenytoin be monitored continuously. If possible, simultaneous use of voriconazole and phenytoin should be avoided, unless the anticipated benefit exceeds the potential risk (see "Interactions with Other Drugs").
Efavirenz (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, cytochrome P450 inducer inhibitor and isoenzyme substrate CYP3A4)
In case of simultaneous use of voriconazole and efavirenz, the dose of voriconazole should be increased to 400 mg twice a day, and the dose of efavirenz should be reduced to 300 mg every 24 hours (see section "Interaction with other drugs").
Rifabutin
The simultaneous use of voriconazole and rifabutin is contraindicated, since rifabutin significantly reduces the concentration of voriconazole in blood plasma.
Ritonavir (a powerful inducer of cytochrome P450 inhibitor and substrate of isoenzyme CYP3A4)
Apply simultaneously voriconazole and ritonavir in low doses (100 mg twice a day) should be given only if the expected benefit from taking voriconazole significantly exceeds the risk of their combined use (see the sections "Contraindications" and "Interaction with other medicines").
Everolimus (isoenzymatic substrate CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein)
The simultaneous use of voriconazole and everolimus is not recommended, since it is expected that voriconazole significantly increases the concentration of everolimus in the blood plasma. At the moment, there is not enough information to recommend a correction of the dosing regimen.
Methadone (isoenzymatic substrate CYP3A4)
An increase in the concentration of methadone in the blood plasma leads to the appearance of toxic effects, including lengthening of the interval QT. With simultaneous use of voriconazole and methadone, it is necessary to closely monitor the manifestation of undesirable and toxic effects. If necessary, the dose of methadone may be reduced (see section "Interaction with other drugs").
Fluconazole (inhibitor of isoenzymes CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4)