According to recent research on fluoroquinolones, Levaquin antibiotic side effects may include aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection.

A new Swedish study has shown that aortic events, such as aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections, may be among Levaquin antibiotic side effects. The study found that patients taking fluoroquinolones, such as Levaquin, were at a 66 percent increased chance for aortic events.

Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, such as respiratory and urinary tract infections. The use of fluoroquinolones like Levaquin, has been linked to collagen disorders.

Collagen is one of the body’s primary connective tissue proteins and plays a large part in tendons and blood vessels. In patients with collagen disorders, the integrity of collagen-based structures, such as the aorta, can degrade, causing serious side effects, like aortic dissection.

According to a new study published in the BMJ found that Levaquin antibiotic side effects include a 66 percent increased risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection.  The study used a nationwide registry of data from Sweden to compare over 360,000 aortic events associated with fluoroquinolone or amoxicillin use. The study joins the growing body of evidence that fluoroquinolones side effects, including Levaquin antibiotic side effects, may have a link to aortic events.

“Before these results are used to guide clinical decision making, the collective body of data on this safety issue should be scrutinized by drug regulatory authorities and weighed, together with other safety issues with this drug class,” the researchers wrote.

Aortic Events

The aorta is the primary artery which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta, which is more than an inch wide in some places, has three layers that can be affected by collagen disorders. When any layer of the aorta is damaged by a collagen disorder, a weakened or bulged area forms, called an aortic aneurysm.

Although aneurysms themselves are often asymptomatic, the weakened and bulging aortic wall can rupture at any time, causing a hole that allows blood to leak from the aorta. An aortic dissection can also occur, which involves a split in the layers of the aortic wall, allowing a buildup of blood which further splits the aorta.

Symptoms of aortic events include chest pain, jaw pain, sudden pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness, clammy skin, nausea, vomiting, and shock. Although medications can be used to treat a low-risk aortic aneurysm, the only way to treat an aortic rupture or dissection is through surgical intervention. The condition is serious and can be life threatening, so a medical professional should be contacted about any possible symptoms.

Because of the collagen mechanism involved with Levaquin antibiotic side effects, lawsuits have been filed against the drug’s manufacturer alleging that the drug was a direct cause of aortic events.

If you or a loved one experienced Levaquin antibiotic side effects including aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, you may qualify for a Levaquin lawsuit. A Levaquin lawsuit could help recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, wrongful death, and more.