Concentration of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite in alveolar macrophages and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid of dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite, ciprofloxacin, in alveolar macrophages (AM) and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the lungs in comparison to plasma concentrations in healthy dogs. Eleven dogs were given a single oral dose (5 mg/kg) of enrofloxacin. Four hours later, plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were collected. Cells were separated from the BAL fluid and lysed for determination of drug concentrations within AM. Supernatant was used to determine concentrations of drugs in ELF. Drug assays were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of enrofloxacin (mean +/- SD) was 0.33 +/- 0.14 microgram/mL in plasma, 3.34 +/- 2.4 micrograms/mL in AM and 4.79 +/- 5.0 micrograms/mL in ELF. The concentration of ciprofloxacin was 0.42 +/- 0.26 microgram/mL in plasma, 1.15 +/- 1.03 micrograms/mL in AM and 0.26 +/- 0.26 microgram/mL in ELF. Mean concentrations of both drugs in AM were greater than in plasma (AM to plasma ratio, 10.3 for enrofloxacin and 4.7 for ciprofloxacin). Mean concentrations of enrofloxacin, but not ciprofloxacin, in ELF were greater than in plasma (ELF to plasma ratio, 13.5 for enrofloxacin and 0.52 for ciprofloxacin). Enrofloxacin concentrations in AM and ELF largely exceeded the MICs of the major bacterial pathogens and surpassed by about two times the breakpoint MIC of that drug, and ciprofloxacin concentrations in AM surpassed the MIC of many susceptible organisms. These results suggest that sufficient antimicrobial activity is present in AM and ELF of dogs following oral administration of enrofloxacin to be effective in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections involving susceptible organisms.

Congenital heart disease diagnosed in Guadeloupe.

An epidemiologic survey of congenital heart disease was performed in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, during the 3-year period 1988-1990. This survey, the first on congenital heart disease from the Caribbean, found an overall rate of 6.08 congenital heart disease cases per 1,000 live births, a high rate of hypoplastic left heart disease, and a rate of coarctation of the aorta similar to rates reported in developed countries.

PIP: Between January 1988 and December 1990 health workers referred 139 infants suspected of heart disease to a skilled pediatric cardiologist at the University Hospital of Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. The physicians considered patent ductus arteriosus of prematurity to be a congenital heart disease if it still existed after the neonatal period. The incidence of congenital heart disease was 6.08 cases/1000 live births with a sex ratio of 1:1. 12% of chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down's syndrome. Physicians diagnosed 92% of all cases in the 1st year of life. 35% (49 infants) went to the Pediatric Cardiologic Department of Hospital Necker in Paris, France, to undergo catheterizations. 32 of these infants also underwent chest surgery. Prevalence of coarctation of the aorta (3.1/10,000 live births) essentially equalled that of developed countries. The prevalence of hypoplastic left heart disease was considerably higher than the rate in the literature (3.5/10,000 live births vs. 0.5-2.7/10,000 live births). It was the 4th ranking congenital heart disease in this population (5.7% of all cases). All the infants with hypoplastic left heart disease died.

Gongenital heart disease diagnosed in Guadeloupe

An epidemiologic survey of congenital heart disease was performed in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, during the 3-year period 1988-1990. This survey, the first on congenital heart disease from the Caribbean, found an overall rate of 6.08 congenital heart disease cases per 1 000 live births, a high rate of hypoplastic left heart disease, and a rate of coarctation of the aorta similar to rates reported in developed countries

Gongenital heart disease diagnosed in Guadeloupe

An epidemiologic survey of congenital heart disease was performed in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, during the 3-year period 1988-1990. This survey, the first on congenital heart disease from the Caribbean, found an overall rate of 6.08 congenital heart disease cases per 1 000 live births, a high rate of hypoplastic left heart disease, and a rate of coarctation of the aorta similar to rates reported in developed countries