Oral Fluoroquinolone and the Risk of Aortic Dissection

2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2024 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2023 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. The AHA strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional global data, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

The associations among peptic ulcer disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, and abdominal aortic aneurysms: A nationwide population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

There are overlapping risk factors and underlying molecular mechanisms for both peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Despite improvements in the early diagnosis and treatment of AAA, ruptured AAAs continue to cause a substantial number of deaths. Helicobacter pylori are Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria that are now recognized as the main cause of PUD. H. pylori infection (HPI) is associated with an increased risk of certain cardiovascular diseases. HPIs can be treated with at least two different antibiotics to prevent bacteria from developing resistance to one particular antibiotic.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database to evaluate whether associations exist among PUD, HPI, and eradication therapy for HPI and AAA. The primary outcome of this study was the cumulative incidence of AAA among patients with or without PUD and HPI during the 14-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 7003 patients with PUD/HPI, 7003 patients with only PUD, and another 7003 age-, sex-, and comorbidity-matched controls from the database. We found that patients with PUD/HPI had a significantly increased risk of AAA compared to those with PUD alone and matched controls. The patients who had PUD/HPI had a significantly higher cumulative risk of developing AAA than those with PUD and the comparison group (2.67 % vs. 1.41 % vs. 0.73 %, respectively, p < 0.001). Among those patients with PUD/HPI, patients who had eradication therapy had a lower incidence of AAA than those without eradication therapy (2.46 % vs. 3.88 %, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

We revealed an association among PUD, HPI, and AAA, even after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and annual medical follow-up visits. Notably, we found that HPI eradication therapy reduced the incidence of AAA among patients with PUD.

Editor's Choice -- European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Abdominal Aorto-Iliac Artery Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries in succession to the 2011 and 2019 versions, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy.

METHODS

The guideline is based on scientific evidence completed with expert opinion on the matter. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to a modified European Society of Cardiology grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III and the letters A to C mark the level of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 160 recommendations have been issued on the following topics: Service standards, including surgical volume and training; Epidemiology, diagnosis, and screening; Management of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including surveillance, cardiovascular risk reduction, and indication for repair; Elective AAA repair, including operative risk assessment, open and endovascular repair, and early complications; Ruptured and symptomatic AAA, including peri-operative management, such as permissive hypotension and use of aortic occlusion balloon, open and endovascular repair, and early complications, such as abdominal compartment syndrome and colonic ischaemia; Long term outcome and follow up after AAA repair, including graft infection, endoleaks and follow up routines; Management of complex AAA, including open and endovascular repair; Management of iliac artery aneurysm, including indication for repair and open and endovascular repair; and Miscellaneous aortic problems, including mycotic, inflammatory, and saccular aortic aneurysm. In addition, Shared decision making is being addressed, with supporting information for patients, and Unresolved issues are discussed.

CONCLUSION

The ESVS Clinical Practice Guidelines provide the most comprehensive, up to date, and unbiased advice to clinicians and patients on the management of abdominal aorto-iliac artery aneurysms.

Association Between Use of Fluoroquinolones and Risk of Mitral or Aortic Valve Regurgitation: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Biological plausibility suggests that fluoroquinolones may lead to mitral valve regurgitation or aortic valve regurgitation (MR/AR) through a collagen degradation pathway. However, available real-world studies were limited and yielded inconsistent findings. We estimated the risk of MR/AR associated with fluoroquinolones compared with other antibiotics with similar indications in a population-based cohort study. We identified adult patients who initiated fluoroquinolones or comparison antibiotics from the nationwide Taiwanese claims database. Patients were followed for up to 60 days after cohort entry. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MR/AR comparing fluoroquinolones to comparison antibiotics after 1:1 propensity score (PS) matching. All analyses were conducted by type of fluoroquinolone (fluoroquinolones as a class, respiratory fluoroquinolones, and non-respiratory fluoroquinolones) and comparison antibiotic (amoxicillin/clavulanate or ampicillin/sulbactam, extended-spectrum cephalosporins). Among 6,649,284 eligible patients, the crude incidence rates of MR/AR ranged from 1.44 to 4.99 per 1,000 person-years across different types of fluoroquinolones and comparison antibiotics. However, fluoroquinolone use was not associated with an increased risk in each pairwise PS-matched comparison. HRs were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.89-1.11) for fluoroquinolones as a class, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.83-1.12) for respiratory fluoroquinolones, and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.75-1.01) for non-respiratory fluoroquinolones, compared with amoxicillin/clavulanate or ampicillin/sulbactam. Results were similar when fluoroquinolones were compared with extended-spectrum cephalosporins (HRs of 0.96, 95% CI, 0.82-1.12, HR, 1.05, 95% CI, 0.86-1.28, and HR, 0.88, 95% CI, 0.75-1.03, respectively). This large-scale cohort study did not find a higher risk of MR/AR with different types of fluoroquinolones in the adult population.

Fluoroquinolones increase susceptibility to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection: Molecular mechanism and clinical evidence

Aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) are prevalent severe cardiovascular diseases that result in catastrophic complications and unexpected deaths. Owing to the lack of clinically established and effective medications, the only treatment options are open surgical repair or endovascular therapy. Most researchers have focused on the development of innovative medications or therapeutic targets to slow the progression of AA/AD or lower the risk of malignant consequences. Recent studies have shown that the use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) may increase susceptibility to AA/AD to some extent, especially in patients with aortic dilatation and those at a high risk of AD. Therefore, it is crucial for doctors, particularly those in cardiovascular specialties, to recognize the dangers of FQs and adopt alternatives. In the present review, the main clinical observational studies on the correlation between FQs and AA/AD in recent years are summarized, with an emphasis on the relative physiopathological mechanism incorporating destruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM), phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and local inflammation. Although additional data are required, it is anticipated that the rational use of FQs will become the standard of care for the treatment of aortic diseases.

Lack of association between fluoroquinolone and aortic aneurysm or dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

An increased risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (AA/AD) has been reported with fluoroquinolone (FQ) use. However, recent studies suggested confounding factors by indication. This study aimed to investigate the risk of AA/AD associated with FQ use.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based study included adults aged ≥20 years who received a prescription of oral FQ or third-generation cephalosporins (3GC) during outpatient visits from 2005 to 2016. Data source was the National Health Insurance Service reimbursement database. The primary outcome was hospitalization or in-hospital death with a primary diagnosis of AA/AD. A self-controlled case series (SCCS) and Cox proportional hazards model were used. Self-controlled case series compared the incidence of the primary outcome in the risk period vs. the control periods.

RESULTS

A total of 954 308 patients (777 109 with FQ and 177 199 with 3GC use) were included. The incidence rate ratios for AA/AD between the risk period and the pre-risk period were higher in the 3GC group [11.000; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.420-85.200] compared to the FQ group (2.000; 95% CI 0.970-4.124). The overall incidence of AA/AD among the patients who received FQ and 3GC was 5.40 and 8.47 per 100 000 person-years. There was no significant difference in the risk between the two groups (adjusted hazard ratio 0.752; 95% CI 0.515-1.100) in the inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazards model. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis showed consistent results.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in the risk of AA/AD in patients who were administered oral FQ compared to those administered 3GC. The study findings suggest that the use of FQ should not be deterred when clinically indicated.

Long-term Cardiovascular Adverse Events Induced by Fluoroquinolones: A Retrospective Case-control Study

ABSTRACT

A correlation is already established between fluoroquinolones (FQs) use and cardiovascular events (CVEs), such as QT prolongation; however, serious events such as aortic aneurysm and valve regurgitation have also been reported with FQs. Several unstudied factors could contribute to the development of different CVEs that were not previously evaluated with FQ therapy. Therefore, we aimed to assess the incidence of different serious CVEs after completion of FQ therapy and potential associating factors. This was a retrospective case-control study of inpatients who received ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin for ≥3 days. Patients' echocardiograms were evaluated for the development of aortic or valvular disease or worsening of an existing condition after completion of therapy. Of 373 included patients, 83 developed new valvular disease or worsening of an existing disease, where tricuspid valve regurgitation was the most common CVE (50/83; 60.2%), followed by mitral valve diseases (48/83; 57.8%). Aortic valve regurgitation occurred more commonly with moxifloxacin compared with ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin (17.8% vs. 6.7% and 10.7%, respectively; P = 0.01). Median time to CVE detection ranged 93-166 days for all FQs. The receipt of moxifloxacin and elevated baseline QT interval were associated with an increased CVEs risk (adjusted odds ratio 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-8.11 and adjusted odds ratio 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.04, respectively). Other factors did not show such association. The lack of association of different factors with the occurrence of CVEs indicates that all patients receiving FQ therapy, especially moxifloxacin, should be monitored during the first-year after therapy. Alternatively, other antibiotics with a better safety profile may be considered.

A Fluorescence-Based, T5 Exonuclease-Amplified DNA Cleavage Assay for Discovering Bacterial DNA Gyrase Poisons

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are potent antibiotics of clinical significance, known for their unique mechanism of action as gyrase poisons, which stabilize gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes and convert gyrase into a DNA-damaging machinery. Unfortunately, FQ resistance has emerged, and these antibiotics can cause severe side effects. Therefore, discovering novel gyrase poisons with different chemical scaffolds is essential. The challenge lies in efficiently identifying them from compound libraries containing thousands or millions of drug-like compounds, as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays are currently unavailable. Here we report a novel fluorescence-based, T5 exonuclease-amplified DNA cleavage assay for gyrase poison discovery. This assay capitalizes on recent findings showing that multiple gyrase molecules can simultaneously bind to a plasmid DNA molecule, forming multiple gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes on the same plasmid. These gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes, stabilized by a gyrase poison, can be captured using sarkosyl. Proteinase K digestion results in producing small DNA fragments. T5 exonuclease, selectively digesting linear and nicked DNA, can fully digest the fragmented linear DNA molecules and, thus, "amplify" the decrease in fluorescence signal of the DNA cleavage products after SYBR Green staining. This fluorescence-based, T5 exonuclease-amplified DNA cleavage HTS assay is validated using a 50-compound library, making it suitable for screening large compound libraries.

Fluoroquinolones and the risk of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis including 53,651,283 patients

INTRODUCTION

The association between fluoroquinolone use and the risk of aortic aneurysm as well as the risk of aortic dissections remains uncertain, primarily due to conflicting findings from observational studies. We sought to conduct a double-systematic review and meta-analysis of all observational studies to assess the existence and extent of both these associations. The aim of our study is to assess the role of Fluoroquinolone on aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection in comparison to other antibiotics.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL were systematically searched up till June 2021 for observational studies studying the correlation between fluoroquinolone usage and aortic aneurysms and dissections. Random-effects pooling was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). To assess publication bias, propensity score matching was conducted, and heterogeneity was evaluated by using I2 statistics.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Of 688 potentially relevant articles, 635 titles were screened. Ten studies were included in the systematic review, and 4 observational studies with 53,651,283 participants were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. Pooled estimates showed that fluoroquinolone use was associated with a higher risk of aortic aneurysm when compared to other Antibiotics (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.10-2.48; P<0.00001). However, fluoroquinolones had no significant effect on the risk of developing aortic dissection (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.96-1.25; P=0.19).

CONCLUSIONS

The present analysis suggests that fluoroquinolone usage is more strongly linked to aortic aneurysm than other antibiotics. However, there was no statistically significant link between fluoroquinolone and aortic dissection. As a result, clinicians should exercise caution when administering fluoroquinolone to patients who have a history of or are at risk of aortic disease.

Oral fluoroquinolones and risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection: A nationwide population-based propensity score-matched cohort study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection in patients using oral fluoroquinolones compared to those using macrolides in real-world clinical practice among a large US general population.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study design.

DATA SOURCE

MarketScan commercial and Medicare supplemental databases.

PATIENTS

Adults patients with at least one prescription fill for fluoroquinolone or macrolide antibiotics.

INTERVENTION

Fluoroquinolone or macrolide antibiotics.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was estimated incidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection associated with the use of fluoroquinolones compared with macrolides during a 60-day follow-up period in a 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort. We identified 3,174,620 patients (1,587,310 in each group) after 1:1 propensity score matching. Crude incidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection was 1.9 cases per 1000 person-years among fluoroquinolone users and 1.2 cases per 1000 person-years among macrolide users. In multivariable Cox regression, compared with macrolides, the use of fluoroquinolones was associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection (aHR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.17-1.54). The association was primarily driven by a high incidence of aortic aneurysm cases (95.8%). Results of sensitivity (e.g., fluoroquinolone exposure ranging from 7 to 14 days (aHR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.26-1.71)) and subgroup analyses (e.g., ciprofloxacin (aHR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07-1.49) and levofloxacin (aHR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.19-1.52)) remained consistent with main findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluoroquinolone use was associated with a 34% increased risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection compared with macrolide use among a general US population.

Evaluating the use of methods to mitigate bias from non-transient medications in the case-crossover design: A systematic review

PURPOSE

The case-crossover design is a self-controlled study design used to compare exposure immediately preceding an event occurrence with exposure in earlier control periods. The design is most suitable for transient exposures in order to avoid biases that can be problematic when using the case-crossover design for non-transient (i.e., chronic) exposures. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review of case-crossover studies and its variants (case-time-control and case-case-time-control) in order to compare design and analysis choices by medication type.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search to identify recent case-crossover, case-time-control, and case-case-time-control studies focused on medication exposures. Articles indexed in MEDLINE and EMBASE using these study designs that were published between January 2015 and December 2021 in the English language were identified. Reviews, methodological studies, commentaries, articles without medications as the exposure of interest, and articles with no available full text were excluded. Study characteristics including study design, outcome, risk window, control window, reporting of discordant pairs, and inclusion of sensitivity analyses were summarized overall and by medication type. We further evaluated the implementation of recommended methods to account for biases introduced by non-transient exposures among articles that used the case-crossover design on a non-transient exposure.

RESULTS

Of the 2036 articles initially identified, 114 articles were included. The case-crossover was the most common study design (88%), followed by the case-time-control (17%), and case-case-time-control (3%). Fifty-three percent of the articles included only transient medications, 35% included only non-transient medications, and 12% included both. Across years, the proportion of case-crossover articles evaluating a non-transient medication ranged from 30% in 2018 to 69% in 2017. We found that 41% of the articles that evaluated a non-transient medication did not apply any of the recommended methods to account for biases and more than half of which were conducted by authors with no previous publication history of case-crossover studies.

CONCLUSION

Using the case-crossover design to evaluate a non-transient medication remains common in pharmacoepidemiology. Researchers should apply appropriate design and analysis choices when opting to use a case-crossover design with non-transient medication exposures.

Fluoroquinolones and Risk of Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection in Patients With Congenital Aortic Disease and Marfan Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Fluoroquinolone use can be associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm (AA) or aortic dissection (AD). The US Food and Drug Administration recently warned against fluoroquinolone use for high-risk patients, such as those with Marfan syndrome. However, the association between fluoroquinolone use and AA/AD risk was unknown in these high-risk patients and therefore it was studied in this work.Methods and Results: Data were collected from a national database between 2000 and 2017 for 550 patients with AA/AD and any congenital aortic disease (mean age 41.5 years; 415 with Marfan syndrome). A case cross-over study was conducted to compare the risk of aortic events (AA/AD) associated with fluoroquinolone and amoxicillin use between the hazard period (from -60 days to -1 day) and a randomly selected reference period (-180 to -121 days; -240 to -181 days; and -300 to -241 days). Compared to the reference period without fluoroquinolone use, fluoroquinolone use during the hazard period was not associated with a greater risk of AA/AD (1.09% vs. 1.09%; odds ratio [OR] 1.000; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-3.10), AA (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.11-3.99), or AD (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.30-5.96) in patients with congenital aortic disease or Marfan syndrome. This lack of association was maintained in subgroup analysis, including Marfan syndrome or not, age (≤50 vs. >50 years) and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluoroquinolone use was not associated with an increased risk of AA/AD in patients with congenital aortic disease, including Marfan syndrome. More evidence is required for a fluoroquinolone pharmacovigilance plan in these patients.

Overview of Side-Effects of Antibacterial Fluoroquinolones: New Drugs versus Old Drugs, a Step Forward in the Safety Profile?

Antibacterial fluoroquinolones (FQs) are frequently used in treating infections. However, the value of FQs is debatable due to their association with severe adverse effects (AEs). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued safety warnings concerning their side-effects in 2008, followed by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and regulatory authorities from other countries. Severe AEs associated with some FQs have been reported, leading to their withdrawal from the market. New systemic FQs have been recently approved. The FDA and EMA approved delafloxacin. Additionally, lascufloxacin, levonadifloxacin, nemonoxacin, sitafloxacin, and zabofloxacin were approved in their origin countries. The relevant AEs of FQs and their mechanisms of occurrence have been approached. New systemic FQs present potent antibacterial activity against many resistant bacteria (including resistance to FQs). Generally, in clinical studies, the new FQs were well-tolerated with mild or moderate AEs. All the new FQs approved in the origin countries require more clinical studies to meet FDA or EMA requirements. Post-marketing surveillance will confirm or infirm the known safety profile of these new antibacterial drugs. The main AEs of the FQs class were addressed, highlighting the existing data for the recently approved ones. In addition, the general management of AEs when they occur and the rational use and caution of modern FQs were outlined.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Ciprofloxacin exacerbates dysfunction of smooth muscle cells in a microphysiological model of thoracic aortic aneurysm

Ciprofloxacin use may be associated with adverse aortic events. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of ciprofloxacin on the progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is not well understood. Using an in vitro microphysiological model, we treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) derived from patients with bicuspid aortic valve- or tricuspid aortic valve-associated (BAV- or TAV-associated) TAAs with ciprofloxacin. TAA C57BL/6 mouse models were utilized to verify the effects of ciprofloxacin exposure. In the microphysiological model, real-time PCR, Western blotting, and RNA sequencing showed that ciprofloxacin exposure was associated with a downregulated contractile phenotype, an upregulated inflammatory reaction, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in the normal HASMCs derived from the nondiseased aorta. Ciprofloxacin induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the HASMCs and further increased apoptosis by activating the ERK1/2 and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. These adverse effects appeared to be more severe in the HASMCs derived from BAV- and TAV-associated TAAs than in the normal HASMCs when the ciprofloxacin concentration exceeded 100 μg/mL. In the aortic walls of the TAA-induced mice, ECM degradation and apoptosis were aggravated after ciprofloxacin exposure. Therefore, ciprofloxacin should be used with caution in patients with BAV- or TAV-associated TAAs.

Complexation of fluoroquinolones with magnesium ions

Aim. To evaluate strength of magnesium ion complexes with levofloxacin and moxifloxacin.

Materials and methods. Complexation of levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and reference ligands (ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), sodium citrate, and glycine) with magnesium ions in the range from 0.0 to 1.0 mmol / l was studied. The technique developed by the authors (patent RU 2680519 C1) was used to measure the rate of a model formation reaction of a magnesium phosphate coarse dispersion. Complexing activity of ligands was expressed in relation to EDTA activity and compared with the theoretical ion exchange equilibrium constants. The half maximal effective concentration (C50) calculated by the Michaelis − Menten equation was used to evaluate the dependence of the complexing activity on the dose.

Results. A correlation between the activity of EDTA, citrate ions, and glycine and the theoretical equilibrium constants (R = −0.87, p < 0.001) was found. In the range from 0.0 to 0.4 mmol / l, both levofloxacin and moxifloxacin showed a lesser complexing effect than EDTA (p < 0.001), and in the range from 0.6 to 1.0 mmol / l, their complexing effect was comparable (p > 0.050). The activity of fluoroquinolones did not differ at any concentration (p > 0.050), but moxifloxacin C50 (0.13 mmol / l; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–0.15) was significantly lower than that of levofloxacin (0.22 mmol / l; 95% CI 0.19–0.26), (p < 0.001). Within the 0.4–1.0 mmol / l concentration range, the activity of levofloxacin was higher than that of citrate ions and glycine (p < 0.001). Complexing activity of moxifloxacin was higher than that of citrate ions within the range of 0.2–1.0 mmol / l, and in the range of 0.4–1.0 mmol / l, it was higher than that of glycine (p < 0.001).

Conclusion. The proposed method showed that the complexing activity of fluoroquinolones was close to that of EDTA and exceeded the activity of citrate ions and glycine. The complexation of fluoroquinolones may be associated with their ability to induce side effects associated with magnesium deficiency.

Development of a drug risk analysis and assessment system and its application in signal excavation and analysis of 263 cases of fluoroquinolone-induced adverse reactions

Background: Adverse drug reaction (ADR) signal mining is essential for assessing drug safety. However, the currently available methods for this are rather cumbersome.

Objective: We aimed to develop a drug risk analysis and assessment system using Java language and conduct pharmacovigilance data mining for fluoroquinolones at our hospital.

Methods: We used ADR data reported by Shandong Provincial Third Hospital between July 2007 and August 2021. The signal detection methods included proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The BCPNN method was used as the reference standard for comparing the remaining three signal detection methods based on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Jorden index.

Results: The hospital database contained a total of 2,621 ADR reports, among which 263 were attributed to fluoroquinolones. There were 391 fluoroquinolone-ADR pairs. Using the PRR, ROR, MHRA, and BCPNN method, we detected 13 signals, 13 signals, 10 signals, and 11 weak signals, respectively. After signal detection, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were shown to induce high risk signals for mental and sleep disorders, with the signal intensity of moxifloxacin being the most significant. Compared with BCPNN, the PRR and ROR methods showed better sensitivity, whereas the MHRA method showed better specificity.

Conclusion: We developed a drug risk analysis and assessment system that can help hospitals and other medical institutions to detect and analyse ADR signals in the self-reporting system database, and thus improve drug safety. Further, it indicates that the central nervous system damage caused by fluoroquinolones should be monitored closely, and thus provides a reference for the clinical application of these drugs.

The 2021 Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy (SWAB) guidelines for empirical antibacterial therapy of sepsis in adults

BACKGROUND

The Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy (SWAB) in collaboration with relevant professional societies, has updated their evidence-based guidelines on empiric antibacterial therapy of sepsis in adults.

METHODS

Our multidisciplinary guideline committee generated ten population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) questions relevant for adult patients with sepsis. For each question, a literature search was performed to obtain the best available evidence and assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The quality of evidence for clinically relevant outcomes was graded from high to very low. In structured consensus meetings, the committee formulated recommendations as strong or weak. When evidence could not be obtained, recommendations were provided based on expert opinion and experience (good practice statements).

RESULTS

Fifty-five recommendations on the antibacterial therapy of sepsis were generated. Recommendations on empiric antibacterial therapy choices were differentiated for sepsis according to the source of infection, the potential causative pathogen and its resistance pattern. One important revision was the distinction between low, increased and high risk of infection with Enterobacterales resistant to third generation cephalosporins (3GRC-E) to guide the choice of empirical therapy. Other new topics included empirical antibacterial therapy in patients with a reported penicillin allergy and the role of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to guide dosing in sepsis. We also established recommendations on timing and duration of antibacterial treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our multidisciplinary committee formulated evidence-based recommendations for the empiric antibacterial therapy of adults with sepsis in The Netherlands.

Do fluoroquinolones increase aortic aneurysm or dissection incidence and mortality? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the association between fluoroquinolones (FQs) use, the risk of de novo aortic aneurysm or dissection (AAD), and the prognosis of patients with pre-existing AAD.

Materials and methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science on 31 March 2022. Observational studies that evaluated the association of FQs with AAD risk in the general population or FQs with the prognosis of patients with preexisting AAD and presented adjusted effect estimates were included. Two reviewers assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias and certainty of evidence using GRADE.

Results

Of the 13 included studies, 11 focused on the association of FQs with de novo AAD incidence, and only one study investigated the association of FQs with the patient with AAD prognosis. FQ use was associated with an increased risk of de novo AAD within 30 days (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11–1.81; very low certainty) and 60 days (RR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.26–1.64; low certainty). Specifically, the association was significant when compared with amoxicillin, azithromycin, doxycycline, or no antibiotic use. Furthermore, patients with preexisting AAD exposure to FQ had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.50–1.73; moderate certainty) and aortic-specific mortality (RR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.50–2.15; moderate certainty), compared to the non-exposed FQ group within a 60-day risk period.

Conclusion

FQs were associated with an increased incidence of AAD in the general population and a higher risk of adverse outcomes in patients with preexisting AAD. Nevertheless, the results may be affected by unmeasured confounding factors. This should be considered by physicians contemplating using FQs in patients with aortic dilation and those at high risk of AAD.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021230171].

Survey of potentially inappropriate prescriptions for common cold symptoms in Japan: A cross-sectional study

Background

Common cold is among the main reasons patients visit a medical facility. However, few studies have investigated whether prescriptions for common cold in Japan comply with domestic and international evidence.

Objective

To determine whether prescriptions for common cold complied with domestic and international evidence.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 22, 2020, and January 16, 2021. Patients with cold symptoms who visited the two dispensing pharmacies and met the eligibility criteria were interviewed.

Main outcome measure

The pharmacists at each store and a physician classified the patients into two groups: the potentially inappropriate prescribing group and the appropriate prescribing group.

Results

Of the 150 selected patients, 14 were excluded and 136 were included in the analysis. Males accounted for 44.9% of the total study population, and the median patient age was 34 years (interquartile range [IQR], 27–42). The prevalence rates of potentially inappropriate prescriptions and appropriate prescriptions were 89.0% and 11.0%, respectively and the median drug costs were 602.0 yen (IQR, 479.7–839.2) [$5.2 (IQR, 4.2–7.3)] and 406.7 yen (IQR, 194.5–537.2) [$3.5 (IQR, 1.7–4.7)], respectively. The most common potentially inappropriate prescriptions were the prescription of oral cephem antibacterial agents to patients who did not have symptoms of bacterial infections (50.4%) and β2 stimulants to those who did not have respiratory symptoms due to underlying disease or history (33.9%).

Conclusions

Approximately 90% of prescriptions for common cold symptoms in the area were potentially inappropriate. Our findings could contribute to the monitoring of the use of medicines for the treatment of common cold symptoms.

Does oral ciprofloxacin affect the structure of thoracic aorta in adult and senile male albino rats? A clue to fluoroquinolones-induced risk of aortic dissection

In this study, the effect of oral ciprofloxacin on the structure of the thoracic aorta in rats was investigated. Twenty four male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (6 rats/group): group I (adult control), group II (adult rats treated with ciprofloxacin), group III (senile control), and group IV (senile rats treated with ciprofloxacin). Rats in groups II and IV received ciprofloxacin via oral gavage in a daily dose of 3.5 mg/kg/d for 14 days, while control rats received equivalent amount of distilled water used to dissolve the drug. After 2 weeks, all rats were sacrificed, thoracic aortae were dissected, and half of the specimens were processed for paraffin sections and examined by light microscopy. The other half of the specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Sections from rats treated with ciprofloxacin showed evident damaging effect on aortic wall particularly in (group IV). Aortic intima showed, focal desquamation of the lining epithelium. Tunica media exhibited loss of the normal concentric arrangement and degeneration of the smooth muscle cells. Immune staining for alpha smooth muscle actin showed muscle damage. Interestingly, some sections in (group IV) showed out-pouch (aneurysm like) of the aortic wall. There was dense collagen fibers deposition. Scanning electron microscopic observations of (group IV) revealed uneven intima, adherent blood cells and fibrin filaments to damaged intima, and out-pouch formation. It was concluded that oral ciprofloxacin caused deleterious structural changes in the thoracic aortic wall of rats explaining clinical observations of fluoroquinolones induced risk of aortic dissection and aneurysm.

Association Between Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection With Fluoroquinolones Use in Patients With Urinary Tract Infections: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background Fluoroquinolones are first-line antibiotics recommended for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), with frequent reports of adverse effects of aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD). We examined whether fluoroquinolones can increase the risk of AA and AD in patients with UTIs in the Taiwanese population. Methods and Results We used the National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients diagnosed with UTIs under single antibiotic treatment of fluoroquinolones and first-, second-, or third-generation cephalosporins. An AA and AD diagnosis within a year constituted the study event. Multivariable analysis with a multiple Cox regression model was applied for comparing the hazard risk of AA and AD between fluoroquinolones and first- or second-generation cephalosporins. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce the potential for bias caused by measured confounding variables. Among 1 249 944 selected patients with UTIs, 28 568 patients were assigned to each antibiotic group after propensity score matching. The incidence of AA and AD was not significantly different between the fluoroquinolones and first- or second-generation cephalosporins (adjusted HR [aHR], 0.86 [95% CI, 0.59-1.27]). However, the mortality increased in the fluoroquinolones group (aHR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.04-1.16]). Conclusions Compared with first- or second-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones were not associated with increased risk of AA and AD in patients with UTI. However, a significant risk of mortality was still found in patients treated with fluoroquinolones. The priority is to control infections with adequate antibiotics rather than exclude fluoroquinolones considering the risk of AA and AD for patients with UTI.

Ciprofloxacin accelerates aortic enlargement and promotes dissection and rupture in Marfan mice

OBJECTIVE

Aortic aneurysm and dissection are major life-threatening complications of Marfan syndrome. Avoiding factors that promote aortic damage is critical in managing the care of these patients. Findings from clinical and animal studies raise concerns regarding fluoroquinolone use in patients at risk for aortic aneurysm and dissection. Therefore, we examined the effects of ciprofloxacin on aortic aneurysm and dissection development in Marfan mice.

METHODS

Eight-week-old Marfan mice (Fbn1C1041G/+) were given ciprofloxacin (100 mg/kg/d; n = 51) or vehicle (n = 59) for 4 weeks. Mice were monitored for 16 weeks. Aortic diameters were measured by using ultrasonography, and aortic structure was examined by using histopathologic and immunostaining analyses.

RESULTS

Vehicle-treated Fbn1C1041G/+ mice showed progressive aortic enlargement, with aortic rupture occurring in 5% of these mice. Compared with vehicle-treated Fbn1C1041G/+ mice, ciprofloxacin-treated Fbn1C1041G/+ mice showed accelerated aortic enlargement (P = .01) and increased incidences of aortic dissection (25% vs 47%, P = .03) and rupture (5% vs 25%, P = .005). Furthermore, ciprofloxacin-treated Fbn1C1041G/+ mice had higher levels of elastic fiber fragmentation, matrix metalloproteinase expression, and apoptosis than did vehicle-treated Fbn1C1041G/+ mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Ciprofloxacin accelerates aortic root enlargement and increases the incidence of aortic dissection and rupture in Marfan mice, partially by suppressing lysyl oxidase expression and further compromising the inherited defect in aortic elastic fibers. Our findings substantiate that ciprofloxacin should be avoided in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection with the use of fluoroquinolones in Korea: a nested case–control study

Background

Recent studies have raised concern about the association of fluoroquinolones with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection. We aimed to evaluate such risk in a Korean population.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study using data from the National Health Insurance Service collected from 2013 to 2017 in Korea. The study cohort included patients older than 40 years and excluded patients who had used fluoroquinolones or been diagnosed with aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, or related diseases 1 year prior to the cohort entry date. We randomly matched four controls in the risk set with each case of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (same sex, age, and cohort entry date). We assessed the risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection from fluoroquinolones and adjusted for potential confounders using a conditional logistic regression model.

Results

A total of 29,638 aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection patients were identified between 2014 and 2017. The use of fluoroquinolones within a year was associated with a 10% increased risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (adjusted odds ratio: 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.14, p < 0.05) compared with nonusers. The risk was higher in patients who had used fluoroquinolones within 60 days (adjusted odds ratio: 1.53, 95% CI 1.46–1.62, p < 0.05). The risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection positively correlated with the cumulative dose and duration of fluoroquinolone therapy (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study provides real-world evidence of the risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection from fluoroquinolones in Korea. Patients and medical professionals should be aware that fluoroquinolones can increase the risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, which may be acerbated by high dosage and duration of use.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-022-02488-x.

Ambulatory Fluoroquinolone Use in the United States, 2015-2019

Background

Frequently used fluoroquinolones have been subject to increasing safety concerns and regulatory alerts. This study characterized ambulatory fluoroquinolone utilization in the United States and evaluated the impact of 2016 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety advisories on its use.

Methods

We used IQVIA's National Disease and Therapeutic Index to quantify adult outpatient fluoroquinolone use ("treatment visits"). Descriptive statistics and segmented regression were used to report trends and quantify the varied use before and after FDA's 2016 alerts.

Results

Between 2015 to 2019, fluoroquinolone use decreased by 26.7% (18.7 million treatment visits in 2015 to 13.7 million treatment visits in 2019). Annual use declined by 44%, 24%, and 24% for respiratory, urogenital, and gastrointestinal conditions, respectively; and by 66% among providers ≤44 years old vs negligible decline among those ≥65 years old. Before 2016 FDA advisories, there were approximately 4.8 million fluoroquinolone treatment visits/quarter, which had a statistically significant immediate drop by 641035 visits (95% confidence interval [CI], -937368 to -344702; P=.000) after FDA's 2016 advisories. A statistically significant difference of approximately 45000 visits/quarter (95% CI, -85956 to -3122; P=.036) was observed after the advisories.

Conclusions

Large reductions in ambulatory fluoroquinolone use in the United States have coincided with increasing evidence of safety concerns and FDA advisories. However, fluoroquinolone use varies significantly based on patient and provider characteristics, suggesting heterogeneous effects of emerging risks on clinical practice.

Medical Therapies for Marfan Syndrome and Other Thoracic Aortic Dilatation in Adults: A Contemporary Review

Thoracic aortic dilatation often has an asymptomatic course but may present with lethal complications such as aortic rupture or dissection, particularly when the thoracic aorta is aneurysmally enlarged; therefore, appropriate diagnosis, surveillance, and management are vital. Recommendations regarding imaging and surgical management are outlined in contemporary clinical practice guidelines. Dedicated guidelines regarding medical therapies for the management of thoracic aortic dilatation are lacking. Most of the medical treatment strategies, especially recommendations regarding pharmacological medical therapies related to β-blockade and angiotensin receptor blockers, are derived from data on patients with Marfan syndrome. The main aims of medical therapies for the management of thoracic aortic dilatation are (1) to control the progression of the disease, and (2) to prevent complications related to the disease (such as aortic dissection and mortality). This paper reviews the contemporary evidence and highlights the gaps in evidence to be investigated in further studies.

How Safe are Fluoroquinolones for Diabetic Patients? A Systematic Review of Dysglycemic and Neuropathic Effects of Fluoroquinolones

Introduction

The US Food and Drug Administration issued safety warnings about neuropathy in 2013 and dysglycemia in 2018 caused by fluoroquinolone use, mainly based on case reports and case series. We conducted this systematic review to evaluate the safety of fluoroquinolones in diabetic patients by investigating their dysglycemic and neuropathic effects.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials and observational studies published from inception till September 2019 evaluating the safety of fluoroquinolones. Efficacy studies of fluoroquinolones reporting these adverse effects were also included. Primary outcomes were hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and neuropathy among patients with or without diabetes and treated with fluoroquinolones compared with placebo or other antibiotics. The Cochrane Collaboration tool for randomized controlled trials and modified Newcastle-Ottawa quality-assessment scale were used for assessment of the included studies.

Results and Discussion

A total of 725 studies were identified in the initial search. After screening of titles and abstracts and full-text review, 16 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The sampled patients were aged 30-78 years. Hyperglycemia was reported in 1,588 patients that received fluoroquinolone among eight studies with 4,663 patients, and hypoglycemia was reported in 2,179 patients that received fluoroquinolones among eleven studies with 6,208 patients. Dysglycemia was not generally associated with diabetes mellitus per se. Nevertheless, patients with more comorbidities, especially those with chronic kidney disease, receiving antidiabetics and/or steroids had more glycemic events when treated with fluoroquinolones.

Conclusion

Moxifloxacin was found to be associated the most and ciprofloxacin the least with dysglycemia. fluoroquinolones must be used with great caution among diabetic patients who have comorbidities and are receiving antidiabetics and/or steroids. Further evidence is required from studies on neuropathy caused by fluoroquinolones.

Current progress of fluoroquinolones-increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection

Aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) are major life-threatening diseases around the world. AA is a localized or diffuse dilation of the aorta, while AD is the separation of the layers creating a false lumen within the aortic wall. Fluoroquinolones (FQ) remain one of the most important kind of antibiotics and have a wider clinical use and broad antibacterial spectrum. FQ were also reported to treat infected AA. The most common adverse events (AEs) of FQ are mild and reversible, like headaches, diarrhea and nausea. Due to FQ-related serious AEs, such as tendonitis and tendon rupture, chondrotoxicity, or retinal detachment, QT-prolongation and dysglycemia, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning for FQ for systemic use in 2016 and updated warnings for FQ several times since then. Of note, in December 2018, FDA issued several "black box warnings" against FQ with the latest safety announcement warning about an increased risk of ruptures in the aorta blood vessel in certain patients. Recently, many studies have indicated an association between FQ and an increase risk of AA and AD. However, the exact mechanism of FQ-induced AA/AD remains unclear. This review aims to highlight the latest research progress of the alarming association between FQ and AA/AD. Moreover, molecular mechanisms of FQ in increasing risk of AA and AD are explored. Hopefully, this review can provide novel insights into FQ-increased the risk of AA/AD and a starting place for stewardship interventions.

Serious cardiovascular adverse events with fluoroquinolones versus other antibiotics: A self-controlled case series analysis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between fluoroquinolone (FQ) use and the occurrence of aortic aneurysm/dissection (AA/AD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ventricular arrhythmias (VenA), and all‐cause mortality vs other commonly used antibiotics. We conducted a self‐controlled case series analysis of patients who experienced the outcomes of AA/AD, AMI, and VenA, based on diagnosis codes from emergency department visits and hospitalizations within Veterans Health Administration, and death in FY2014‐FY2018. These Veterans also received outpatient prescriptions for FQs. Conditional Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between FQs and each of the outcomes vs antibiotics of interest (ie amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate, azithromycin, doxycycline, cefuroxime or cephalexin, or sulfamethoxazole‐trimethoprim), adjusted for time‐varying covariates. Using a 30‐day risk period after each antibiotic prescription, adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) for FQs vs each comparator antibiotic were not statistically different for outcomes of VenA or AMI. For AA/AD, incidence was higher during FQ risk periods vs amoxicillin [aIRR 1.50 (95% CI 1.01, 2.25)] and azithromycin [aIRR 2.15 (95% CI 1.27, 3.64)] risk periods. A significantly increased risk of mortality was observed with FQs vs each antibiotic of interest. FQs were associated with an increased risk of AA/AD vs amoxicillin and azithromycin and an increased risk of all‐cause mortality vs multiple antibiotics commonly used for outpatient infections. Although the differences in event rates are small, FQ use should be limited to serious infections without appropriate alternatives.

Vertebral Artery Dissection after Exposure to Levofloxacin: A Report of Two Cases

Exposure to quinolones is known to be an independent risk factor for aortic dissection; however, the association with vertebral artery dissection remains unclear. We report two cases of vertebral artery dissection that occurred 4 and 8 days after exposure to levofloxacin, respectively. Both patients had risk factors for vertebral artery dissection, and quinolone use could have been avoided. These two cases indicate that quinolone exposure can be a risk factor for vertebral artery dissection. Considering the possible mechanism, it is better to avoid the prescription of quinolones to patients who have insufficient connective tissues to avoid vertebral artery dissection.

Fluoroquinolone Prescribing for Diabetic Foot Infections following an FDA Drug Safety Communication for Aortic Aneurysm Risk

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication regarding fluoroquinolone-associated aortic aneurysm. This quasi-experimental study assessed antibiotic prescribing for 198 patients hospitalized with diabetic foot infection. Following the warning, median inpatient fluoroquinolone days of therapy (DOT) decreased from 3 to 0 days (P < 0.001), corresponding to increased beta-lactam DOT and outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy enrollment. FDA communications may influence antibiotic selection and transitions of care, representing opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship.

Risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection following exposure to fluoroquinolones, common antibiotics, and febrile illness using a self-controlled case series study design: Retrospective analyses of three large healthcare databases in the US

Objective

Recent observational studies suggest increased aortic aneurysm or dissection (AAD) risk following fluoroquinolone (FQ) exposure but acknowledge potential for residual bias from unreported patient characteristics. The objective of our study is to evaluate the potential association between FQ, other common antibiotics and febrile illness with risk of AAD using a self-controlled case series (SCCS) study design.

Design

Retrospective database analysis–SCCS.

Setting

Primary and Secondary Care.

Study population

51,898 patients across 3 US claims databases (IBM® MarketScan® commercial and Medicare databases, Optum Clinformatics).

Exposure

FQ or other common antibiotics or febrile illness.

Outcome

AAD.

Methods

We studied patients with exposures and AAD between 2012 and 2017 in 3 databases. Risk windows were defined as exposure period plus 30 days. Diagnostic analyses included p-value calibration to account for residual error using negative control exposures (NCE), and pre-exposure outcome analyses to evaluate exposure-outcome timing. The measure of association was the incidence rate ratio (IRR) comparing exposed and unexposed time.

Results

Most NCEs produced effect estimates greater than the hypothetical null, indicating positive residual error; calibrated p (Cp) values were therefore used. The IRR following FQ exposure ranged from 1.13 (95% CI: 1.04–1.22 –Cp: 0.503) to 1.63 (95% CI: 1.45–1.84 –Cp: 0.329). An AAD event peak was identified 60 days before first FQ exposure, with IRR increasing between the 60- to 30- and 29- to 1-day pre-exposure periods. It is uncertain how much this pre-exposure AAD event peak reflects confounding versus increased antibiotic use after a surgical correction of AADs.

Conclusion

This study does not confirm prior studies. Using Cp values to account for residual error, the observed FQ-AAD association cannot be interpreted as significant. Additionally, an AAD event surge in the 60 days before FQ exposure is consistent with confounding by indication, or increased use of antibiotics post-surgery.

Registration

NCT03479736.

[Safety in the selection of oral antibiotic treatment in community infections, beyond COVID-19]

Los antibióticos orales son uno de los fármacos más utilizados en la comunidad. Sus efectos adversos son generalmente poco frecuentes y leves, e incluyen toxicidad e interacciones medicamentosas. El mecanismo de producción es variado y no siempre bien conocido. El conocimiento de los efectos adversos con relevancia clínica puede permitir hacer un uso más juicioso de los antibióticos basados en el principio primero no hacer daño, primun non nocere. En esta revisión exploramos los principales efectos adversos de los antibióticos orales con énfasis en los β-lactámicos, macrólidos y fluoroquinolonas.

Fluoroquinolones as a trigger for rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm: A case-crossover analysis

Fluoroquinolones (FQ) are associated with an increased risk of tendinopathy, including rupture. Our study aimed to investigate whether FQ use triggered the rupture of aortic aneurysms using a self-controlled design. We hypothesised that the use of FQ was associated with aortic rupture shortly after redeemed FQ prescriptions. Using nationwide data sources, we performed a case-crossover study of cases with ruptured aortic aneurysms. From 1996 to 2016, 58 persons presented with rupture of an aortic aneurysm and a redeemed prescription for any FQ within 28 days. 67% were men, and the median age was 77 years. Some 82.9% presented with a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. In our conditional regression, the crude OR for having rupture with a recent FQ redemption was 1.36 (CI 1.00-1.86). After adjusting for potential confounders, the OR was 1.35 (CI 0.98-1.85). Changing the hazard period to FQ redemption within 60 and 90 days, the OR was 2.16 (CI 1.70-2.76) and 2.21 (CI 1.78-2.75), respectively. In conclusion, we demonstrated an association between FQ use within 60 and 90 days and a diagnosis of ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Risk reduction and pharmacological strategies to prevent progression of aortic aneurysms

INTRODUCTION

While size thresholds exist to determine when aortic aneurysms warrant surgical intervention, there is no consensus on how best to treat this disease before aneurysms reach the threshold for intervention. Since a landmark study in 1994 first suggested ß-blockers may be useful in preventing aortic aneurysm growth, there has been a surge in research investigating different pharmacologic therapies for aortic aneurysms - with very mixed results.

AREAS COVERED

We have reviewed the existing literature on medical therapies used for thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms in humans. These include ß-blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as well as miscellaneous drugs such as tetracyclines, macrolides, statins, and anti-platelet medications.

EXPERT OPINION

While multiple classes of drugs have been explored for risk reduction in aneurysm disease, with few exceptions results have been disappointing with an abundance of contradictory findings. The vast majority of studies have been done in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms or thoracic aortic aneurysm patients with Marfan Syndrome. There exists a striking gap in the literature when it comes to pharmacologic management of non-Marfan Syndrome patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Given the differences in pathogenesis, this is an important future direction for aortic aneurysm research.

The Association between the Risk of Aortic Aneurysm/Aortic Dissection and the Use of Fluroquinolones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to investigate the association between the risk of aortic aneurysm (AA)/aortic dissection (AD) and the use of fluoroquinolones (FQs). PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for relevant articles to 21st February 2021. Studies that compared the risk of AA/AD in patients who did and did not receive FQs or other comparators were included. The pooled results of nine studies with 11 study cohorts showed that the use of FQs increased the risk of AA/AD by 69% (pooled risk ratio (RR) = 1.69 (95% CI = 1.08, 2.64)). This significant association remained unchanged using leave-one-out sensitivity test analysis. Similar results were found for AA (pooled RR = 1.58 (1.21, 2.07)) but no significant association was observed for AD (pooled RR = 1.23 (0.93, 1.62)). Stratified by the comparators, the use of FQs was associated with a significantly higher risk of AA/AD compared to azithromycin (pooled RR = 2.31 (1.54, 3.47)) and amoxicillin (pooled RR = 1.57 (1.39, 1.78)). In contrast, FQ was not associated with a higher risk of AA/AD, when compared with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or ampicillin/sulbactam (pooled RR = 1.18 (0.81, 1.73)), sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim (pooled RR = 0.89 (0.65, 1.22)) and other antibiotics (pooled RR = 1.14 (0.90, 1.46)). In conclusion, FQs were associated with an increased risk of AA or AD, although the level of evidence was not robust. However, FQs did not exhibit a higher risk of AA or AD compared with other broad-spectrum antibiotics. Further studies are warranted to clarify the role of FQs in the development of AA or AD.

The association between fluoroquinolones and aortic dissection and aortic aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous studies have drawn causal associations between fluoroquinolone use and collagen pathologies including tendon rupture and retinopathy. This meta-analysisattempted to assess the association between fluoroquinolone use and the risk of aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm. A systematic search was performed on Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library. 9 studies were included in final analysis. Primary random-effects meta-analysis of 7 studies, excluding 2 pharmacovigilance studies demonstrated statistically increased odds of aortic dissection (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71-3.32) aortic aneurysm (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.59-2.48), and aortic aneurysm or dissection (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.89; I² = 72%) with current use of fluoroquinolones compared to their nonuser counterparts. Based on the "number needed-to-harm" analysis, 7246 (95% CI: 4329 to 14,085) patients would need to be treated with fluoroquinolones for a duration of at least three days in order for one additional patient to be harmed, assuming a population baseline incidence of aortic dissection and aneurysm rupture to be 10 per 100,000 patient-years. With strong statistical association, these findings suggest a causal relationship, warranting future research to elucidate the pathophysiological and mechanistic plausibility of this association. These findings however, should not cease prescription of fluoroquinolones, especially when clinically indicated.

Current pharmacological management of aortic aneurysm

ABSTRACT

Aortic aneurysm (AA) remains one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Of the major treatments, prophylactic operative repair is used for AA to avoid potential aortic dissection (AD) or rupture. To halt the development of AA and alleviate its progression into AD, pharmacological treatment has been investigated for years. Currently, β-adrenergic blocking agents, losartan, irbesartan, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, statins, antiplatelet agents, doxycycline, and metformin have been investigated as potential candidates for preventing AA progression. However, the paradox between preclinical successes and clinical failures still exists, with no medical therapy currently available for ideally negating the disease progression. This review describes the current drugs used for pharmacological management of AA and their individual potential mechanisms. Preclinical models for drug screening and evaluation are also discussed to gain a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and ultimately find new therapeutic targets for AA.

Arterial aneurysm and dissection with systemic vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors: A review of cases reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and published in the literature

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved multiple systemic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors since 2004 to treat various malignancies. Inhibition of the VEGF signaling pathway can result in impairment of vascular wall integrity through medial degeneration and endothelial dysfunction, potentially resulting in arterial (including aortic) aneurysm/dissection. We performed a postmarketing review to evaluate arterial aneurysm/dissection as a potential safety risk for patients with cancer treated with VEGF inhibitors. We searched the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and literature for reports of arterial (including aortic) aneurysm/dissection with VEGF inhibitors currently approved by the FDA for a cancer indication. We identified 240 cases of arterial aneurysm/dissection associated with VEGF inhibitors. The median time to onset of an arterial aneurysm/dissection event from the initiation of a VEGF inhibitor was 94 days (range 1-1955 days). Notably, 22% (53/240) of cases reported fatal outcomes related to arterial aneurysm/dissection. We determined the drug-event association as probable in 15 cases that lacked relevant confounding factors for arterial aneurysm/dissection, which is supported by unremarkable computed tomography (CT) findings prior to starting VEGF inhibitor therapy, despite nondrug-associated background arterial aneurysm/dissection generally demonstrating preexisting arterial abnormalities. FAERS and literature case-level evidence suggests that VEGF inhibitors may have contributed to arterial aneurysm/dissection, as a class effect, based on short onset relative to natural history of disease and biologic plausibility. Cardiovascular and oncology healthcare professionals should be aware of this rare, but life-threatening safety risk associated with VEGF inhibitors.

Effects of Fluoroquinolones on Outcomes of Patients With Aortic Dissection or Aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Recent population-based studies have revealed that the use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) is associated with an increased risk of aortic dissection (AD) and aneurysm (AA). However, no evidence is available on whether FQs increase adverse events in patients who had been diagnosed with AD or AA.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether the use of FQs increases the risk of aortic-related adverse events and death in this high-risk population.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 31,570 adult patients who survived after admission for AD or AA between 2001 and 2013 were identified. We divided each calendar year into 6 data units (2 months) for each patient and each year during follow-up. Covariates and exposure of interest (FQs) were reassessed every 2 months. We used another common antibiotic, amoxicillin, as a negative control exposure.

RESULTS

Exposure to FQs was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.50 to 1.73), aortic death (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.50 to 2.15), and later aortic surgery. However, amoxicillin exposure was not significantly associated with risk of any of the outcomes. A subgroup analysis revealed that the effect of FQs was not significantly different between the AD and AA groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to amoxicillin use, FQ exposure in patients with AD or AA was associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes. FQs should not be used by high-risk patients unless no other treatment options are available.

Current progress in clinical, molecular, and genetic aspects of adult fibromuscular dysplasia

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a non-atherosclerotic vascular disease that may involve medium-sized muscular arteries throughout the body. The majority of FMD patients are women. Although a variety of genetic, mechanical, and hormonal factors play a role in the pathogenesis of FMD, overall, its cause remains poorly understood. It is probable that the pathogenesis of FMD is linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Extensive studies have correlated the arterial lesions of FMD to histopathological findings of arterial fibrosis, cellular hyperplasia, and distortion of the abnormal architecture of the arterial wall. More recently, the vascular phenotype of lesions associated with FMD has been expanded to include arterial aneurysms, dissections, and tortuosity. However, in the absence of a string of beads or focal stenosis, these lesions do not suffice to establish the diagnosis. While FMD most commonly involves renal and cerebrovascular arteries, involvement of most arteries throughout the body has been reported. Increasing evidence highlights that FMD is a systemic arterial disease and that subclinical alterations can be found in non-affected arterial segments. Recent significant progress in FMD-related research which has led to improved understandings of the disease's clinical manifestations, natural history, epidemiology, and genetics. Ongoing work continues to focus on FMD genetics and proteomics, physiological effects of FMD on cardiovascular structure and function, and novel imaging modalities and blood-based biomarkers that can be used to identify subclinical FMD. It is also hoped that the next decade will bring the development of multi-centred and potentially international clinical trials to provide comparative effectiveness data to inform the optimal management of patients with FMD.