Cecal torsion in rodents associated with chronic administration of clinafloxacin

The chronic toxicity of clinafloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, was evaluated in multiple strains of mice and rats. In 5 separate studies, mice and rats that were orally administered up to 1,000 mg/kg of clinafloxacin from 9 to 104 weeks developed dose-related cecal dilatation and deaths that were attributable to cecal torsion. Cecal rupture was observed in association with torsion. Although cecal dilatation is commonly observed in rodents given antibacterials such as fluoroquinolones, cecal torsion has not been a reported sequelae to dilatation.