The study was conducted on four different places in the UK involved such patients whom corticosteroids requirements were quite high and having sensitivity to at least one of common fungi.

In the beginning 18 patients were randomly administered with itraconazole 200 mg twice in a day and 23 were assigned to placebo. The changes were brought in the parameter of Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) score, which is attained on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 exhibits an excellent quality of life in asthmatic patients.

The previous baseline AQLQ score was 4.13. At 32 weeks, the researchers noted a considerably increase in AQLQ score in the group treated with itraconazole (5.36) in comparison with placebo group (4.18).

The author also noted that, itraconazole was also linked to significant reductions in IgE levels, which were maintained even after the  four months of discontinuation of the treatment.

However, AQLQ scores variation following the completion of trial, showing that “continuous antifungal treatment beyond 8 months is essential for the good health maintenance for fungi allergen asthmatic patients, and IgE levels is unnecessary to monitor for relapse,” the authors say.

Dr. Denning’s and his colleagues theorize that “antifungal agent diminished allergen exposure directly by eliminating viable filamentous fungi.”

They conclude, “The length of the antifungal effect on symptoms of asthma seen in this study is promising.”