Effects of acute renal failure and ganciclovir on the pharmacodynamics of levofloxacin-induced seizures in rats

Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Apr;30(4):745-50. doi: 10.1248/bpb.30.745.

Abstract

Seizures have been reported in patients receiving fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin (LVFX). In the present study, we investigated the effects of experimental renal failure and the concomitant treatment with ganciclovir on the pharmacodynamics of LVFX-induced seizures to identify whether these factors can alter the pharmacokinetics or the pharmacodynamics of LVFX. Male Wistar rats received an intravenous infusion of LVFX at 250, 500, or 1000 mg/h/rat until the onset of seizures, and samples of serum, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained. The concentration of LVFX in CSF at the onset of seizures was not affected by the infusion rate, whereas that in serum and brain increased with increasing infusion rate. This suggests that the concentration of LVFX in CSF is an appropriate index of the drug concentration at the site of action. The concentration of LVFX in CSF at the onset of seizures was significantly lower in rats with renal failure than in the control rats. Pretreatment with methylguanidine, an uremic toxin, at 600 mg/h/rat for 8 min reduced the concentration of LVFX in CSF at the onset of seizures and the total body clearance of LVFX after the intravenous injection. In rats pretreated with ganciclovir at 500 mg/h/rat for 1 h, the concentration of LVFX in CSF at the onset of seizures was significantly lower than the control rats. These results suggest that renal failure and ganciclovir can be the risk factors for LVFX-induced seizures, and that they increase the sensitivity of the central nervous system to LVFX-induced seizures.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / complications
  • Acute Kidney Injury / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / blood
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antiviral Agents / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ganciclovir / adverse effects*
  • Ganciclovir / blood
  • Ganciclovir / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Levofloxacin*
  • Male
  • Ofloxacin / administration & dosage
  • Ofloxacin / blood
  • Ofloxacin / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Ofloxacin / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / complications
  • Seizures / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Levofloxacin
  • Ofloxacin
  • Ganciclovir