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Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008 December; 4(6): 1285–1294.
Published online 2008 December.
PMCID: PMC2643109
Amphotericin B lipid complex: treatment of invasive fungal infections in patients refractory to or intolerant of amphotericin B deoxycholate
PH Chandrasekar
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
Correspondence: PH Chandrasekar, Harper University Hospital, 3990 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, USA, Tel +1 313 795 9649, Fax +1 313 993 0302, Email pchandrasekar/at/med.wayne.edu
Abstract
Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) was introduced in the late 1990s as a less toxic alternative to amphotericin B (AmB) deoxycholate. ABLC is a safe and effective broad-spectrum drug in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in patients with infection refractory to AmB deoxycholate or in patients intolerant of the same formulation. The drug has not been rigorously evaluated for primary therapy. Recent availability of several newer potent and safe drugs has sharply curtailed the use of potentially nephrotoxic ABLC. However, AmB lipid complex is likely to continue to play a limited albeit significant clinical role in view of the narrow spectrum of activity and significant drug-drug interactions of the newer drugs and emergence of drug-resistant fungi.
Keywords: amphotericin B lipid complex, invasive fungal infections