The action and safety of ketoconazole: a brief literature review

Abstract

A great number of human diseases can be attributed in some way to the effects of fungi, and consequently have long been recognized as important to the dermatologist and mycologist. However, not in all spheres of medicine are fungi significant in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Fungi are biochemically similar to the host since they are eukaryotic. Thus, it is difficult to synthesize agents that will destroy the pathogenic organism and not harm the patient. Ketoconazole, an imidazole, was the first broad-spectrum, oral antifungal drug to be used in clinical medicine. Selected publications on the pharmacology, comparative efficacy in treatment, toxicity and safety of ketoconazole are briefly reviewed. In addition, new areas of research being undertaken for the azole derivatives are surveyed.