In vitro effect of ketoconazole on human neutrophil chemotaxis and Candida albicans killing.

Ketoconazole, an antifungal agent, was investigated to discover its possible enhancing role on polymorphonuclear chemotactic and Candida killing functions in vitro. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes from 10 healthy subjects and two different strains of Candida albicans were used. At concentrations of 1 microgram/ml Ketoconazole showed no distinct synergistic effect on either of the above-mentioned polymorphonuclear cellular functions, but, on the other hand it operated directly on Candida cells. In addition, this drug did not demonstrate any chemotactic activity on granulocytes. These data could suggest that host cellular defence and Ketoconazole exert parallel rather than synergistic activity.