Sunday, July 24, 2011

antifungal agents

Antifungals: Triazole, Polyene and echinocandin
1. Triazole
-inhibits ergosterol synthesis in the fungal cell wall by inhibiting lanosterol demethylase
-examples: fluconazole, itraconazole, voraconazole
-all azoles can cause hepatotoxicity, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, stevens-johnson syndrome, multiple drug interactions - increase levels of phenytoin, warfarin, cyclosporin

2. Polyene
-combines with sterols in fungal membrane to create a channel with leakage of cytosol
-e.g. Amphotericin, nystatin

3. Echinocandin
-inhibit synthesis of D-glucan, a key fungal cell wall component
-e.g. caspofungin, micafungin

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