Caspofungin refers to a special antifungal agent used for the effective treatment of severe fungal diseases. These include various aspergilloses and candidamycoses. Caspofungin is usually administered intravenously.
What is caspofungin?
Caspofungin refers to a special antifungal drug used to effectively treat severe fungal infections. The drug caspofungin has been available in Germany since July 2002 and is used to treat invasive fungal diseases. In most cases, the diseases to be treated are aspergilloses and candidamycoses. The active ingredient is very well tolerated and can also be used in cases of pre-existing resistance to various antifungal agents. When treated with caspofungin, patients usually suffer from opportunistic infections that occur when the immune system is impaired. Underlying these are often diseases such as AIDS or malignant tumors. The drug is also used in patients suffering from immunosuppression. These often occur after organ transplants. However, a large number of the pathogenic fungi can attack the human body even with a healthy immune defense and cause a wide variety of complaints in the course.
Pharmacological action
The antifungal drug caspofungin is highly effective overall. All fungal species that colonize humans have cell walls consisting of polysaccharides and chitin. The enzyme glucan contained therein is inhibited in its function by the administration of caspofungin. Fungi depend on this enzyme to build their cells. Human cells, on the other hand, do not have these cell walls and the enzymes they contain. The efficacy of caspofungin is particularly evident in the rapid reduction of symptoms. This already occurs on the first day of intravenous therapy. Eventually, the symptoms of the disease disappear completely and patients are symptom-free. Studies have shown that the success rate in treating patients with various mycoses (fungal infections) is over 80 percent. Thus, the efficacy of the drug can already be classified as higher than that of various other antifungal drugs. The tolerability of Caspofungin is particularly good, as the drug has a targeted effect and places hardly any strain on the organs of the human body. This is one of the reasons why caspofungin is one of the most frequently used antifungals in clinical therapy worldwide.
Medical application and use
A majority of serious fungal diseases treated in hospitals are based on colonization with so-called Candida fungi. Especially for patients with weakened immune systems or those undergoing chemotherapy, mycoses pose a major health risk. Life-threatening complications can increasingly occur in connection with a fungal infection and automatically mean a high risk for the patient. One of these risks describes the so-called hematogenous spread. In view of this, rapid and prophylactic administration of caspofungin is appropriate. Even if a higher dosage of the active ingredient is required, the drug is usually well tolerated. Thus, the targeted efficacy is given even if complications occur. The treatment approval for caspofungin relates to severe invasive aspergillosis. Here, patients usually do not respond to other drugs or the tolerability is insufficient. Various studies have also shown that various Candida fungi are increasingly forming resistance, which can lead to a major problem. Here it has been shown that the drug Caspofungin in its overall mode of action and nature resists the formation of resistance (so far) and also has a high clinical efficacy. The good tolerability further contributes to the fact that, overall, there is less frequent discontinuation of therapy.
Risks and side effects
The drug caspofungin is very well tolerated by a majority of patients with corresponding fungal diseases. Side effects as well as risks hardly occur. However, vein inflammation may occur in some cases during intravenous administration at the local site, but this can be treated without problems. Furthermore, itching, pain and burning sensations at the injection site may occur during therapy with caspofungin.Overall, however, these side effects rarely occur. Risks and complications associated with the administration of caspofungin are also unlikely. Therapy can be targeted and continued to completion, and discontinuations are necessary only in very few cases.