An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an outward bulge in the wall of the main artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood to the organs and lower extremities. This main artery, known as the aorta, runs from the upper part of the chest cavity out of the heart and down the torso until it splits into two smaller blood delivery arteries called the right and left common iliac.

The walls of the aorta are made up of many layers to withstand pressure. When an abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs, it is very serious—both because it is often asymptomatic and because it can break and allow for rapid internal bleeding to follow. This out-of-control bleeding frequently leads to the demise of the patient.

Levaquin Antibiotic Linked to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Towards the end of 2015, two studies were published—one in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s (JAMA) Internal Medicine and one in BMJ Open–that linked the use of broad spectrum fluoroquinolones like Levaquin with the development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones are oral antibiotics that are prescribed to treat a variety of infections that are bacterial in nature, such as urinary tract infection, bronchitis, sinus infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pneumonia. Rather than target a specific area, this treatment option casts a wide net to attack several possible bacteria.

While previous studies reported that Levaquin and fluoroquinolones use tended to weaken connective tissue leading to tendon ruptures, the studies also shed a great deal of scientific light on abdominal aortic aneurysm and other threats to the body’s circulatory system whose origin might reside in use of antibiotics of this nature.

In addition to abdominal aortic aneurysm, the studies also linked this family of medications to a similar problem known as aortic dissection. An aortic dissection is a tiny tear in the inner collagen layer of the aorta that allows blood to enter and become trapped between the other layers.

It is very similar in its threat to an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ultimately the outer layer of the artery can weaken with the build-up of blood trapped in between and burst, causing a potentially fatal episode of bleeding.

Other serious situations can arise with dissection which might allow the time for medical intervention such as kidney issues or other organs reacting to the reduction in blood flow. Cardiac arrest and stroke may also occur.

According to the November 2015 medical journal articles, the greatest period of risk in developing these critical circulatory issues are while the patient is still taking the antibiotic. The researchers named a risk increase range of between 124 to 143 percent. Significant as well was the reported 48 percent risk increase assigned to takers of this antibiotics within the last 60 days prior to a cardiovascular event.

If you are or know of someone that experienced one of these serious aortic injuries and might have ingested Levaquin or an antibiotic in the same family within a few months of the injury, you may qualify to file a legal complaint.