Itraconazole and fluconazole have similar effects on Candida

Treating acute uncomplicated vaginal or vulvovaginal candidiasis in nonpregnant women with either itraconazole or fluconazole produces similar results, according to the results of a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Eleni Pitsouni, MD, and colleagues at the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Athens, Greece, conducted a review of six randomized controlled trials comprising 1,092 patients with vaginal or vulvovaginal candidiasis to assess the differences in outcome between itraconazole and fluconazole, both orally administered triazole antifungal agents.

When the two drugs were compared in terms of clinical cure and improvement, mycologic cure, adverse events affecting the digestive and nervous systems, and adverse events severe enough to cause withdrawal from treatment, they produced similar results. Two trials provided data on the rate of recurrence, which was 9% for fluconazole and 13% for itraconazole.

Pitsouni E, Iavazzo C, Falagas ME. Itraconazole vs fluconazole for the treatment of uncomplicated acute vaginal and vulvovaginal candidiasis in nonpregnant women: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Obstet Gyecnol. 2008;198:153-160.