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Challenges in the Therapy of Chromoblastomycosis

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Abstract

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is an implantation mycosis mainly occurring in tropical and subtropical zones worldwide. If not diagnosed at early stages, patients with CBM require long-term therapy with systemic antifungals flanked by various physical treatment regimens. As in other neglected endemic mycoses, comparative clinical trials have not been performed for this disease; nowadays, therapy is mainly based on a few open trials and on expert opinions. Itraconazole, either as monotherapy or associated with other drugs, or with physical methods, is widely used. Recently, photodynamic therapy has been employed successfully in combination with antifungals in patients presenting with CBM. In the present paper, the most used therapeutic options against CBM are reviewed as well as the several factors that may have impact on the patient’s outcome.

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We thank Professor Sybren de Hoog for critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Public Health, Federal University of Parana, Rua General Carneiro, 181, Curitiba, PR, 80600900, Brazil

    Flavio Queiroz-Telles

  2. Special Mycology Laboratory, LEMI, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Daniel Wagner de C L Santos

  3. Institute of Infectious Diseases Emílio Ribas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Daniel Wagner de C L Santos

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Queiroz-Telles, F., de C L Santos, D.W. Challenges in the Therapy of Chromoblastomycosis. Mycopathologia 175, 477–488 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-013-9648-x

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