Invasive Fungal Disease in Adults Undergoing Remission-Induction Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: The Pathogenetic Role of the Antileukemic Regimen

Using multivariate techniques, we studied the relationships of cytotoxic regimen, intestinal mucosal damage, and fungal colonization in the pathogenesis of invasive fungal disease in 138 patients undergoing induction therapy for untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) according to three institutional protocols: AML-84 (cytarabine/daunorubicin), AML-87 (high-dose cytarabine/etoposide/daunorubicin), and AML-88 (mitoxantrone/etoposide). Invasive fungal disease occurred in 36%, 6%, and 2.6% of patients participating in protocols AML-87, AML-84, and AML-88, respectively (chi 2 = 23.465; P < .0001). Protocol AML-87 was the strongest independent predictor in the multivariate model (RR = 26.7; P < .0001). Cytotoxic therapy-related epithelial damage in the gut, as measured by D-xylose malabsorption, correlated with invasive fungal disease and protocol AML-87. Fungal colonization, a predictor of invasive fungal disease, correlated with frequent modifications of antibiotic regimens. These results demonstrate the role of cytotoxic regimen-related gut epithelial damage, antibiotic-prescribing behavior, and fungal colonization in the pathogenesis of invasive fungal disease in patients with leukemia.