Comparison of micafungin and voriconazole in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients

What is known and Objective: Invasive fungal infections are a major threat to renal transplant recipients. Micafungin and voriconazole are two useful antifungal agents for treating such infections. Our objective is to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of micafungin and voriconazole in the initial treatment of such infections. Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, open‐labelled, randomized, controlled trial, renal transplant recipients with invasive fungal infections were assigned to receive either micafungin or voriconazole. The enrolled subjects received a kidney transplant between March 2008 and March 2010 at one of the two transplant centres in Henan Province, China. The efficacy and adverse effects of the two treatments were compared. Results and Discussion: The clinical trial enrolled 65 patients, of whom 31 were treated with micafungin, and 34 with voriconazole. The rates of microbiological evidence of infection in the micafungin and voriconazole groups were 64·5% and 70·5%, respectively, whereas the rates of Candida as the major cultured fungus were 80·0% and 75·0%, respectively. Complicated bacterial infection rates in the two treatment groups were 38·7% and 32·4%, respectively, whereas complicated CMV viral infection occurred at a rate of 19·2% and 23·5%, respectively. Fungal infection within one to 3 months after transplant was 83·6% (26/31) and 85·3% (29/34) in the micafungin and voriconazole groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of efficacy, survival beyond 10 days and discontinuation of treatment because of lack of efficacy (P > 0·05). Mortality rates in the micafungin and voriconazole groups were 9·7% (3/31) and 12·1% (4/33), respectively. Rates of adverse effects in the two groups were 41·9% and 51·6% (P > 0·05), respectively. What is new and Conclusions: This is the first comparison of micafungin and voriconazole in renal transplant patients. Our study shows that the effectiveness of micafungin was similar to that of voriconazole in such patients.