Efficacy of unilamellar liposomal amphotericin b in treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently granulocytopenic rabbits: The potential role of bronchoalveolar d-mannitol and serum galactomannan as markers of infection

Peter Francis, James W. Lee, Alan Hoffman, Joanne Peter, Andrea Francesconi, John Bacher, James Shelhamer, Philip A. Pizzo, Thomas J. Walsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

162 Scopus citations

Abstract

A model of primary pulmonary aspergillosis in rabbits was developed to reproduce the persistent levels of profound granulocytopenia and the histopathologic features of bronchopneumonia, vascular invasion, and hemorrhagic infarction encountered in humans. d-mannitol was detectable in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and galactomannan was measurable in serum by latex agglutination immunoassay. A pharmacokinetically distinctive unilamellar vesicle formulation of liposomal amphotericin B, 5 mg/kg/day intravenously, compared with high-dose conventional desoxycholate amphotericin B, 1 mg/kg/day intravenously, was more effective in preventing nephrotoxicity, increasing survival, reducing the number of viable organisms, and decreasing tissue injury due to Aspergillus organisms. Thus, d-mannitol in lavage fluid and galactomannan in serum may be useful markers of pulmonary aspergillosis, and liposomal amphotericin B was significantly more effective and safer than desoxycholate amphotericin B for treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis in profoundly granulocytopenic rabbits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)356-368
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume169
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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