A Study of Empirical Antifungal Therapy With Itraconazole

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The purpose of this study is to investigate the overall success rate of itraconazole intravenous treatment for a period of more than 7 days.

Detailed Description
-----------------
This is a retrospective study ie, a study that looks backward in time, usually using medical records and interviews with patients who are already known to have a disease, in patients with itraconazole intravenous prescription as an empirical (based on practical experience) antifungal agent. This study collects baseline information about underlying disease, sign of fungal infection, neutropenia (a decrease in white blood cells), neutropenic fever duration and the reason for discontinuation. Neutropenia is defined as a neutrophil (white blood cell) count of ≤500 cells/mm3 or a count of ≤1000 cells/mm3 with a predicted decrease to ≤500 cells/mm3. Fever is defined as a body temperature ≥38.3 Celsius degrees at least once a day with no definite external factor or a body temperature of ≥38 Celsius degrees continued for at least 1 hour.

Official Title
-----------------
Retrospective Observation of Empirical Antifungal Therapy With Itraconazole

Conditions
-----------------
Neutropenia

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Drug: Itraconazole


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Patients with neutropenic fever who receive therapy for inhibiting or preventing development of neoplasms (abnormal growth of tissue) or stem cell transplantation (stem cell is a cell whose daughter cells may differentiate into other cell types) for hematologic malignancies (cancers that affect blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes) Patients who receive itraconazole intravenous (IV) treatment for more than 7 days Exclusion Criteria: Childbearing women who are pregnant or likely to be pregnant during the study period and men who are neither infertile nor willing to refrain from sexual relations but whose partner does not conduct an effective contraception Fever due to documented fungal infection Hepatic dysfunction Kidney abnormalities Patients who are not eligible for the study participation based on warnings, precautions and contra medications in the package insert of the study drug at the investigator's discretion

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Itraconazole<br> | Drug: Itraconazole<br>* Itraconazole intravenous (IV) 200 mg twice daily for 2 days, a total of 4 doses and then 200 mg once daily until clinically significant resolution of neutropenia.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Success rate of itraconazole treatment when used for more than 7 days | Treatment success is achieved when neutropenia is resolved, ie, when the blood cells count is within the normal reference range. | From 7 days to approximately 2 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Success rate of itraconazole treatment until neutropenia is resolved | Treatment success is achieved when neutropenia is resolved, ie, when the blood cells count is within the normal reference range. | Approximately 2 weeks | 
| Drop out rate due to the lack of efficacy of itraconazole treatment |  | Approximately 2 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Neutropenia, Hematologic malignancy, Itraconazole, Fungal infection, Antifungal agent, Neutropenic fever