The Use of Ketoconazole as an Inhibitor of Steroid Production

Abstract

Ketoconazole is an imidazole derivative that is chemically related to miconazole (Fig. 1). It is an oral antimycotic agent with broad-spectrum activity and low toxicity.^{1 2 3} The drug is considered to represent an important innovation in the treatment of fungal disease and has been used extensively in clinical practice for the past five years. The development of gynecomastia in some patients treated for mycosis first led to the investigation of the drug's effect on the production of testosterone.^{4 , 5} Thereafter, ketoconazole was shown to be a potent inhibitor of gonadal and adrenal steroid synthesis in vitro and in vivo.^{5 6 7 8 9 10} The finding of . . .