[A study on the concentrations of levofloxacin in the gallbladder tissue and bile of patients]

Abstract

Concentrations of levofloxacin (LVFX, DR-3355), optically active (-)-ofloxacin, in the gall-bladder tissue and bile were determined in patients, and the results were as follows: 1. A single dose of LVFX (100 mg) was administered orally to 6 patients with cholelithiasis about 2 to 3 hours before operation. The range in the gallbladder tissues was 0.34 to 1.59 micrograms/g, while the range in sera was 0.20 to 1.05 micrograms/ml. The ranges in the adipose tissues, gallbladder bile, and common duct bile were 0.07 to 0.26 micrograms/g, 1.8 to 12.2 micrograms/ml, and 1.4 to 5.8 micrograms/ml, respectively. 2. A single dose of LVFX (100 mg) was administered orally to 5 patients with indwelling T-tube. Concentrations of LVFX in excreted bile samples were 1.2 to 2.4 micrograms/ml, 1.3 to 3.5 micrograms/ml, and 1.3 to 2.4 micrograms/ml at 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 12 hours after administration, respectively. Therefore, it appears that LVFX may be effective in biliary tract infections, because of its sustained high concentrations in biliary system.