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Ciprofloxacin and the inner ear--a morphological and round window membrane permeability study
D Bagger-Sjöbäck1, L Lundman, I Nilsson-Ehle
1Department of Otolaryngology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hosital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Summary
Ciprofloxacin, an antimicrobial, showed no ototoxic effects in guinea pigs even at high doses. It was also found to penetrate the inner ear when applied to the round window membrane.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Pharmacology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Ciprofloxacin is a novel antimicrobial agent.
- Suppurative otitis media is a condition requiring effective treatment.
- Evaluating drug safety, specifically ototoxicity, is crucial before clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the ototoxic potential of ciprofloxacin.
- To determine if ciprofloxacin can pass through the round window membrane into the inner ear.
Main Methods:
- Systemic administration of ciprofloxacin (25–150 mg/kg) to guinea pigs for 14 days.
- Local application of ciprofloxacin (0.1 mg/ml) to the round window membrane in chinchillas.
- Measurement of ciprofloxacin concentration in perilymph using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Main Results:
- No behavioral or morphological evidence of inner ear or vestibular damage was observed in guinea pigs, even at high doses.
- Ciprofloxacin was detected in the perilymph of chinchillas after local application to the round window membrane.
- Mean perilymph concentration reached 0.165 µg/ml within 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Systemic administration of ciprofloxacin does not appear to cause ototoxicity.
- Ciprofloxacin can penetrate the inner ear from the middle ear via the round window membrane.