Successful treatment of brain aspergillosis with voriconazole

Until recently, brain aspergillosis was almost always fatal, with a response rate to amphotericin B of < 10%. This study describes a retrospective analysis of eight consecutive cases of brain aspergillosis. All patients were immunosuppressed and five required mechanical ventilation. Antifungal treatment included amphotericin B (n = 7), itraconazole (n = 3), voriconazole (n = 2) and flucytosine (n = 1). Three (38%) patients survived following prolonged azole therapy after initial amphotericin B treatment, combined with a reduction in their immunosuppressive treatment. The prognosis of brain aspergillosis might be improved if immunosuppression could be reduced and prolonged oral azole therapy used.