The role of itraconazole in preventing and treating systemic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.

The increasing use of immunosuppressive chemotherapy and allogeneic transplants for haematological malignancies has increased the number of patients at risk of systemic fungal infections (SFIs). A number of antifungal agents are now available. This paper reports the deliberations of an expert panel that considered the role of itraconazole. It concluded that itraconazole has an important role in the prophylaxis and treatment of SFIs whether proven or not.