Optimal Dosage of Caspofungin in Critically Ill Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are especially at risk for invasive candidiasis due to the
presence of risk factors. It is known that in critically ill patients, alterations in
function of various organs and body systems can influence the pharmacokinetics and hence the
plasma concentration of a drug. A study of caspofungin in ICU patients has found a high
inter- and intra-individual variability in caspofungin concentration. Factors that caused
subtherapeutic caspofungin plasma concentrations were body weight > 75 kg and
hypoalbuminemia. Furthermore, an efficacy study showed a lower response rate for caspofungin
among patients with a higher disease severity score.
As a result of the altered pharmacokinetics, under- or over-exposure of caspofungin can occur
in critically ill patients and an adjusted dosage might be necessary in these patients.