Risk of Liver Damage Caused by Modern Systemic Antimycotics

Overview

Long-term systemic antimycotic therapy, which is necessary in dermatology indications as e.g.in onychomycosis, is associated with concern of certain risk of hepatotoxicity. The frequency of liverdamage after application of ketoconazole is 1:15 000, after terbinafine 1:45 000-50 000, after itraconazolepulse-therapy 3.2:100 000 and after intermittent fluconazole therapy 1.4:100 000. The safety ofmodern antimycotics is comparable e.g. with paracetamol (toxic reactions rate 5.5:100 000) oribuprofen (toxic liver damage appeared in 2 of 54 830 treated).

Key words:
systemic antimycotics - hepatotoxicity