Drug of the week series -9

Clinical Scenario 1:

A 38-year-old woman has been taking oral ketoconazole for four weeks. She presents with fatigue, nausea, dark urine, and yellow discoloration of the eyes.

  • Nephrotoxicity
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Hepatotoxicity
  • Ototoxicity
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Clinical Scenario 2:

A 30-year-old patient visits a dermatologist with ring-shaped, itchy lesions on the skin. The doctor prescribes ketoconazole cream. Ketoconazole is primarily used to treat:

  • Bacterial Infection
  • Viral Infection
  • Fungal Infection
  • Parasitic Infection
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Were you able to find the answers? Comment your reasons

MBH/PS

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Clinical Scenario 1:

The combination of fatigue, nausea, dark urine, and yellow discolouration of the eyes (scleral icterus) are classic presentations of jaundice and liver injury. Oral ketoconazole carries a well-known, black box warning for severe hepatotoxicity (liver damage), which requires routine monitoring of liver function tests (LFTs).

Clinical Scenario 2:

The “ring-shaped, itchy lesions” describe tinea corporis (commonly known as ringworm), which is superficial fungal infection. Ketoconazole belongs to the azole class of medications, which work by inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes.

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Yes. Ist case is but confusing but the 2nd senerio is a classic fungal skin ringworm infection symptoms.

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  1. Hepatotoxicity

  2. Fungal infections

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Yes, ketoconazole is a second line drug used to treat fungal infection.

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Great addition to the Drug of the Week series! These two scenarios perfectly illustrate the critical clinical distinction between systemic and localised therapy.

Scenario 1 is exhibiting classic signs of jaundice due to oral ketoconazole-induced Hepatotoxicity.

Scenario 2 highlights its traditional role against superficial Fungal Infections. It’s a classic reminder to always opt for localised topical azoles whenever possible to spare the patient’s liver

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Im glad I got the right answers in first attempt.