Περίληψη:
Although the beneficial effects of dexamethasone have frequently been
investigated in various serious-infection settings, insufficient data on
valve histology and cardiac function for infective endocarditis are
available. The efficacy of moxifloxacin for the treatment of
experimental aortic valve endocarditis due to methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus and the long-term effects of dexamethasone were
evaluated in the current study. Sixty-eight rabbits were randomly
assigned to four groups: A, B, C, and D. Group A consisted of 18 animals
and functioned as a control group. Groups B and C consisted of 11 and 23
subjects, respectively, which received moxifloxacin for 5 days in a
human-like pharmacokinetic simulation. Group D consisted of 16 animals
that were administered moxiffoxacin plus dexamethasone (0.25 mg;1kg of
body weight twice a day intravenously). The group B animals were
sacrificed a day after the completion of treatment, and group C and D
animals were sacrificed after 12 days in order to monitor any possible
relapse and allow microbiological, histopathological, and
echocardiographic evaluation of the longterm effects of glucocorticoids.
No differences in survival, sterilization rates, or inflammatory
infiltration and calcification of valve tissue were observed among the
treated groups. However, the degrees of valve damage and collagenization
were significantly worse, the fibroblast content was higher, and
fractional shortening of the left ventricle fluctuated significantly in
group C compared to group D (all groups, P < 0.05). We concluded that
dexamethasone treatment for experimental S. aureus endocarditis
attenuates valve destruction and preserves overall cardiac function
without impeding the efficacy of moxifloxacin.
Συγγραφείς:
Skiadas, Ioannis
Pefanis, Angelos
Papalois, Apostolos and
Kyroudi, Aspasia
Triantafyllidi, Helen
Tsaganos, Thomas and
Giamarellou, Helen
