The safety and efficacy of itraconazole for the treatment of patients with eumycetoma due to Madurella mycetomatis

This prospective study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of itraconazole for the treatment of patients with mycetoma due to Madurella mycetomatis. The study consisted of 13 patients with confirmed disease; all were treated with oral itraconazole in a dose of 400 mg daily for three months after which the dose was reduced to 200 mg daily for nine months. All patients showed good clinical response to 400 mg itraconazole daily, but when the dose was reduced to 200 mg daily, the clinical response was gradual and slow. Post-treatment surgical exploration showed that, in all patients, the lesions were well localized, encapsulated with thick capsule and they were easily removed surgically. In all these lesions, grains colonies were encountered and they were viable on culture. Post-operative biopsies showed no significant changes in the morphology of the grains. A constant finding was the presence of between 5-7 grains in a single cavity walled by fibrous tissue. The reaction surrounding the grains was a Type I tissue reaction characterized by a neutrophil zone around grains. Patients were followed up post-operatively for variable periods (range 18-36 months) and only one patient had recurrence. Initial pre-operative treatment with itraconazole may be recommended for eumycetoma patients to enhance lesions encapsulation and localization which can facilitate wide local excision to avoid unnecessary massive mutilating surgery and recurrence.