Levaquin Lawsuit Lawyer

Scientists have suspected that fluoroquinolones break down collagen in the body which makes up the lining of the aorta. Two studies published in 2015 reinforced a connection between this class of antibiotics and collagen deterioration that may lead to aortic dissections and aneurysms.

In a study published October 5, 2015 by medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers warned that fluoroquinolones may cause the main artery in the human body to become enlarged. Researchers compared 1,477 case patients against a control group of 147,700 from January 2000 through December 2011. The findings suggest that current use of Levaquin and similar antibiotics increased the risk for aortic aneurysm by more than double.

“Conclusions and Relevance  Use of fluoroquinolones was associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection. While these were rare events, physicians should be aware of this possible drug safety risk associated with fluoroquinolone therapy”.

In a study published November 18, 2015 by medical journal BMJ, researchers studied 1.7 million older patients of which one third were prescribed fluoroquinolone. These patients were 3.13 times more likely to experience a tendon rupture and 2.72 times more likely to suffer an aortic aneurysm than those who did not take fluoroquinolones. Excerpts from the study give alarming insight into the link between Levaquin and Avelox and aortic aneurysms and dissection.

“Overall, fluoroquinolones were associated with almost a tripling of the risk of tendon ruptures—a recognised collagen-associated adverse event induced by these medications. Fluoroquinolones were associated with a similar increase in the risk of aortic aneurysms—a more ominous complication that has not been previously described”.

“Reducing unnecessary fluoroquinolone treatments or prolonged treatment courses, might have possibly prevented more than 200 aortic aneurysms in this population”.

“Our study confirms a doubling of the risk of tendon ruptures during fluoroquinolone treatment, checks the risk of retinal detachments with these medications, and identifies a novel association with aortic aneurysms. The findings suggest that patients receiving fluoroquinolone treatment could be warned about a rare but potentially lethal risk to the aorta“.