Amphotericin B lipid soluble formulations versus amphotericin B in cancer patients with neutropenia

Johansen et al., 2014 | Cochrane Database Syst Rev | Meta Analysis

Citation

Johansen Helle Krogh, Gøtzsche Peter C. Amphotericin B lipid soluble formulations versus amphotericin B in cancer patients with neutropenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014-Sep-04;2014(9):CD000969. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000969.pub2

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy or receive a bone marrow transplant have an increased risk of acquiring fungal infections. Such infections can be life-threatening. Antifungal drugs are therefore often given prophylactically to such patients, or when they have a fever. OBJECTIVES: To compare the benefits and harms of lipid soluble formulations of amphotericin B with conventional amphotericin B in cancer patients with neutropenia. SEARCH METHODS: We searched PubMed from 1966 to 7 July 2014 and the reference lists of identified articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised clinical trials comparing lipid soluble formulations of amphotericin B with conventional amphotericin B. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The two review authors independently assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias and abstracted data. MAIN RESULTS: We found 13 trials (1960 patients). Lipid-based amphotericin B was not more effective than conventional amphotericin B on mortality (relative risk (RR) 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64 to 1.14) but decreased invasive fungal infection (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97), nephrotoxicity defined as a 100% increase in serum creatinine (RR 0.45; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.54), and number of dropouts (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.97).For the drug used in most patients, AmBisome (4 trials, 1214 patients), there was no significant difference in mortality (RR 0.77; 95% CI 0.54 to 1.10) whereas it tended to be more effective than conventional amphotericin B on invasive fungal infection (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.01, P value 0.053).AmBisome, amphotericin B in Intralipid (6 trials, 379 patients), amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD) (2 trials, 262 patients), and amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) (1 trial, 105 patients) all decreased the occurrence of nephrotoxicity, but conventional amphotericin B was rarely administered under optimal circumstances. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: It is not clear whether there are any advantages of lipid-based formulations if conventional amphotericin B is administered under optimal circumstances, and their high cost prohibits routine use in most settings. There is a need for large trials comparing lipid-based formulations of amphotericin B with conventional amphotericin B given in the same dose, with routine premedication for prevention of infusion-related toxicity, and with supplementation with fluid, potassium, and magnesium for prevention of nephrotoxicity.

Key Findings

We found 13 trials (1960 patients). Lipid-based amphotericin B was not more effective than conventional amphotericin B on mortality (relative risk (RR) 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64 to 1.14) but decreased invasive fungal infection (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97), nephrotoxicity defined as a 100% increase in serum creatinine (RR 0.45; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.54), and number of dropouts (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.97).For the drug used in most patients, AmBisome (4 trials, 1214 patients), there wa

Outcomes Measured

• Requires manual extraction

Population

MeSH Terms

• Amphotericin B
• Antifungal Agents
• Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
• Humans
• Neoplasms
• Neutropenia
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Evidence Classification

• Level: Meta Analysis
• Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
• Vertical: magnesium

Provenance

• PMID: 25188673
• DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000969.pub2
• PMCID: PMC6457843
• Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09