Comparison of efficacy of amphotericin B and itraconazole in chronic invasive fungal sinusitis.

Management of invasive fungal sinusitis includes both surgery and antifungal chemotherapy. To compare the efficacy of amphotericin B and itraconazole used alone in the management of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis. A prospective randomized unblinded study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India during December 2006 to June 2008. 26 immunocompetent patients were randomly divided into two groups-group A-received amphotericin B and group I-received itraconazole in conventional doses. The response to treatment was judged on the basis of symptomatic and radiologic resolution. Seven patients had complete cure (5/16-gr I; 2/10-gr A); Eleven patients had persistent disease (7/16-group-I; 4/10 in group A); four relapses were noted (3/16 in group I and 1/10 in group A); 3 deaths occurred; one patient was lost to follow up. Relative risk analysis did not show any statistically significant difference between the two drugs as regards their efficacy. Itraconazole and amphotericin B both have been found to be equally efficacious in the management of invasive fungal sinusitis. Itraconazole however, has fewer side effects compared to amphotericin B.