Abstract
Background: Ciprofloxacin induces damage of the epiphyseal growth plate during early
post-natal developmental phase resulting in irreversible bone damage and growth inhibition.
Aim of the work: Is to study the effect of ciprofloxacin on the knee joint, the reversibility of
these effects and the possible protective role of vitamin E.
Material and methods: nine pregnant rats were maintained until birth of forty pups. These
forty pups were divided into 2 groups. A Control group and four ciprofloxacin treated groups.
Ciprofloxacin was given to the 1st group immediately after birth through the lactating mothers.
The 2nd group received ciprofloxacin three weeks after birth. Ciprofloxacin was given
simultaneously with Vitamin E to the 3rd group. The 4th group received ciprofloxacin and
sacrificed 30 days after stoppage of it. All pups received ciprofloxacin in a dose of 20 mg/kg/day
for 14 days.
Results: Ciprofloxacin caused erosions and cavitation of the articular cartilage and the
epiphyseal growth plate of the femur and tibia by light microscopy and chondrocytes
degeneration by electron microscopy. After giving vitamin E with Ciprofloxacin, the articular
cartilage of the femoral condyle was affected only by cavitation of deep zone with little sign of
degeneration by electron microscopy. After stopping of Ciprofloxacin for 30 days we found
persistence of its effect on growing articular cartilage and epiphyseal growth plate.
Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin causes an irreversible damage effect on the growing cartilage.
Vitamin E partially minimizes the effect of Ciprofloxacin.
Keywords: knee joint —Articular cartilage- Ciprofloxacin- Vitamin E-epiphyseal growth
plate. |
