Maintenance therapy with itraconazole after treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We conducted a prospective, open trial to establish the efficacy of itraconazole 400 mg/d as maintenance treatment for cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients. Between February 1996 and May 1997, 50 patients were included for analysis. After a mean follow-up of 326 days, 2 of 38 patients (5.3 per cent) had relapses of symptomatic cryptococcal meningitis. Hepatotoxicity occurred in 2 cases. In conclusion, maintenance therapy with itraconazole 400 mg/d is effective in preventing recurrent cryptococcal meningitis.