Inactivity of terbinafine in a rat model of pulmonary aspergillosis.

In a model of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis terbinafine did not improve survival of experimental animals in doses up to 80 mg/kg/day despite adequate lung concentrations. Pretreatment and aerosolization of the compound were also ineffective. Terbinafine was markedly less active in vitro when serum was used instead of Yeast-Nitrogen-Glucose-broth. It is concluded that a lack of bioavailability in the presence of serum may explain the lack of activity of terbinafine in experimental aspergillosis.