Effect of steroid hormones on the in vitro antifungal activity of itraconazole on Fonsecaea pedrosoi

Abstract

The in vitro antifungal activity of itraconazole, combined with oestradiol, testosterone or progesterone, on the growth of Fonsecaea pedrosoi was evaluated.   Fonsecaea pedrosoi was cultured in Sabouraud supplemented with dimethyl sulphoxide dilutions in β-oestradiol (0.04 μg/mL and 0.04 mg/mL), progesterone (0.06 μg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL) or testosterone (1.2 μg/mL and 1.2 mg/mL) combined with 0.01 to 1 μg/mL of itraconazole. The sex steroid hormones did not modify the growth pattern of F. pedrosoi when they were in the presence itraconazole. The absence of synergistic or antagonistic activity of oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and itraconazole on the growth of F. pedrosoi observed in this work does not rule out in vivo factors related to the development of the disease and to the success of an antifungal treatment.