Itraconazole pulse therapy in chromoblastomycosis
Kumarasinghe, S.P.; Kumarasinghe, M.P.
European Journal of Dermatology Ejd 10(3): 220-222
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1167-1122 PMID: 10725823 Document Number: 517665
A case is reported in a 68-year-old woman from Sri Lanka , who presented with a 25-year history of a slowly enlarging scaly plaque lesion involving the left shoulder and lateral chest. Chromoblastomycosis was suspected. Direct KOH smears showed sclerotic bodies and histology showed granulomata with characteristic brown spores. Oral itraconazole (200 mg twice daily) was given for a week followed by 3 drug-free weeks. This cycle was repeated for 6 months (7 pulses). Clinical improvement was visible by 2 months. Scrapings and biopsy repeated 5 months after the commencement of treatment were negative for chromoblastomycosis. The lesion had clinically healed by 5 months. Examination 8 months after cessation of treatment did not show any recurrence. It is concluded that itraconazole pulse therapy is cheaper than daily treatment but effective in chromoblastomycosis.