A study shows that a class of antibiotics frequently prescribed could be responsible for cardiovascular disease | Life

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 – Researchers at the University of British Columbia have linked two cardiovascular pathologies to the administration of antibiotics from the family of fluoroquinolones, very commonly prescribed to treat a multitude of bacterial infections.

Their study, published in the journal Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is based on the observation of more than nine million Americans within 30 to 61 days of exposure to fluoroquinolone, as well as over a longer period of 61 to 365 days after taking the drug. drug.

The data comes in part from the US Food and Drug Administration's adverse reporting system, as well as from a health insurance claims database, also in the United States, containing demographic data. the nature of the drug, the dosage prescribed and the duration of the treatment. .

The study showed that, compared to patients who are prescribed amoxicillin, those taking ciprofloxacin are at a 2.4-fold higher risk of developing aortic and mitral regurgitation, serious cardiac dysfunction causing a blood reflux in the heart.

In total, they identified more than 12,505 cases of valvular regurgitation, with the highest risk occurring within 30 days of exposure.

The senior author of the study, the Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, Mahyar Etminan, said: "This class of antibiotics is very convenient, but in the majority of cases, especially for infections of community origin, really need. Inappropriate prescription can lead to both antibiotic resistance and serious heart problems. "

Although further research is needed to confirm the findings of the study, the authors hope that their discovery will encourage physicians and researchers to consider fluoroquinolone as a potential cause of otherwise unexplained heart problems observed in some patients. – AFP-Relaxnews