Basic and Clinical Studies of Levofloxacin in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

Levofloxacin, an S(-)-isomer of ofloxacin, is twice as potent as ofloxacin as regards antimicrob­ ial activity and is associated with fewer adverse ef­ fects. To obtain fundamental data for the use of levofloxacin in obstetrics and gynaecology, its pen­ etration into gynaecological tissues and its clinical efficacy were investigated. 1. Methods 42 patients, with a mean age of 46 years, who were undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of myoma uteri etc., were enrolled in the pharmacokinetic study after their informed consent was obtained. Before surgery, levofloxacin 200mg was orally administered with 50ml of water and, at ligation of the uterine artery during the hys­ terectomy, uterine arterial blood and cubital ven­ ous blood were taken. In addition, approximately Ig each of portio vaginalis, cervix uteri, myomet­ rium, endometrium, ovary and oviduct were taken from the healthier portions of the samples. Levofloxacin concentrations in serum and each tissue were measured by HPLC. The time of meas­ urement was determined as the interval from lev­ ofloxacin administration to ligation of the uterine