TRANSFER OF OFLOXACIN (OFLX) TO THE BRONCHOALVEOLAR SYSTEM (I)

Abstract

The transfer of ofloxacin (OFLX) to the bronchoalveolar system was studied using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the findings were compared with our previous results for cefmenoxime (CMX) and astromicin (ASTM). The subjects were 23 patients with various respiratory diseases: 9 cases of lung cancer, 5 of chronic inflammation, 5 of interstitial pneumonia, 3 of pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 of non-specific bronchial ulcer. BAL was performed 60 minutes after a single oral administration of 200 mg of OFLX, and the concentration of OFLX, total protein and albumin were measured in serum and BAL fluid (BALF), respectively. The OFLX concentration was measured by bioassay (in serum) and new fluorimetric high perfomance liquid chromatography (in BALF) And the following results were obtained.
1) The concentration of OFLX was 0.04-4.31μg/ml in serum, and 2.4-322 ng/ml in BALF.
2) The mean value±standard deviation of OFLX concentration was 1.83±1.36μg/ml in serum, and 79.84±77.62 ng/ml in BALF.
3) The BALF/serum ratio of OFLX was 0.058±0.036 and the OFLX concentration was thought to reflect that in serum. The OFLX concentration in serum was higher after 120 minutes than 60 minutes.
4) The transfer of OFLX to BALF was similar to that of CMX and ASTM in the previous study, and smooth transfer to the bronchoalveolar system was recognized.
5) The OFLX/albumin ratio was higher in BALF than in serum.