A randomized open label trial of tamoxifen combined with amphotericin B and fluconazole for cryptococcal meningitis.

ABSTRACT: Background: Cryptococcal meningitis is a leading cause of death in HIV-infected patients. International treatment guidelines recommend induction therapy with amphotericin B and flucytosine. This antifungal combination is most effective, but unfortunately flucytosine is expensive and unavailable where the burden of disease is greatest. Where unavailable, guidelines recommend treatment with amphotericin and fluconazole, but this is less effective, with mortality rates of 40-50%. Faster rates of clearance of yeast from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are associated with better outcomes - improving the potency of antifungal therapy is likely to be an effective strategy to improve survival. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to treat breast cancer, has anti-cryptococcal ac

SUBMITTER: Ngan NTT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6381443 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature