Ketoconazole treatment of nonprimary coccidioidomycosis: Evaluation of 60 patients during three years of study

Sixty patients with coccidioidomycosis were treated with ketoconazole rather than with another antifungal agent, and their responses were evaluated in relation to the predominant site of Involvement. For the three main groups, improvement occurred in 12 of 19 patients with chronic pulmonary infections, in 20 of 23 with soft tissue lesions and in six of 11 with skeletal involvement. Infections in soft tissues improved most rapidly (average of 34 days) and often with 200 mg per day, whereas pulmonary and skeletal infections improved more slowly (63 and 165 days, respectively), usually requiring 400 mg per day. Of 12 patients with response in whom therapy has been discontinued, seven have had relapses. Recurrence was apparent usually within the first month and after six months or less of treatment. Patients in remission had received ketoconazole for six to 17 months. Untoward drug effects included abdominal complaints (23 percent) and gynecomastia (8 percent). Therapy was discontinued in only three patients for side effects. Our findings support the use of ketoconazole in the treatment of certain forms of chronic coccidioidal infections.