Evaluation of Antifungal Prophylaxis on Graft-versus-host Disease (GVHD) Patients

Antifungal prophylaxis should be used in patients being treated with glucocorticoids for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Although fluconazole has been widely used as an antifungal prophylactic agent after allogeneic HSCT, fluconazole prophlaxis only shows a limited protective role against IFIs, is not effective against invasive aspergillosis. In addition, NCCN guideline of the prevention and treatment of cancer-related infections recommends antifungal prophylaxis in patients with significant GVHD until resolution of GVHD using Posaconazole, Voriconazole, Echinocandin, or Amphotericin B. However, under the National Health Insurance System, none of the drug can be given prophylactically except itraconazole oral solution against IFIs. Itraconazole oral solution shows excellent bioavailability and good efficacy against aspergillus and fluconazole resistant candida infection.Based on these findings, we will perform prospective multicenter study evaluating the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of itraconazole oral solution prophylaxis against IFIs in patients treated with systemic corticosteroids for GVHD after allogeneic HSCT.