Does ciprofloxacin affect the inner ear? A preliminary report

Abstract

Ciprofloxacin, a 4-quinolone antibiotic was tested regarding its possible influence on the inner ear sensory epithelia. Adult guinea pigs were injected intraperitoneally with ciprofloxacin in a dosage of 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight per day. The animals in the high dosage ranges stopped eating and consequently lost weight quite rapidly. After sacrifice, the inner ear sensory epithelia were removed for ultrastructural analysis. The general outline of the vestibular sensory epithelia as well as the cochleae were normal. Mild changes in the sensory hairs of the third row of cochlear outer hair cells were noted in the specimens obtained from the high dose animals. These changes were discrete and did not resemble any previously known pattern of ototoxic damage. At present no data indicate that ciprofloxacin has a toxic effect on the inner ear.