A number of common antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones have been linked to serious injuries, including aortic aneurysm and dissection. This class of antibiotics includes Avelox, Cipro, Factive and  Levaquin (levofloxacin).  The latter has been a cause of action in lawsuits drugmaker against Johnson & Johnson for several years.

According to recent studies, patients who are treated with Levaquin and other antibiotics of the fluoroquinolones class are up to 200 percent more likely to suffer serious damage to the aorta, which is the primary conduit for blood leaving the heart.

What Are Fluoroquinolones Used For?

Drugs of the fluoroquinolone class have been available for over three decades. They are broad spectrum antibiotics, meaning they treat a wide variety of bacterial infections), and are generally prescribed for the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections. They are used to treat humans as well as animals. They are not recommended for the treatment of children except under rare circumstances.

What is Aortic Aneurysm?

Aneurysm is a bulge in the walls of a major artery. Such bulges cause serious weakening of the artery as they grow; undetected and untreated, an aneurysm can cause the artery to burst. The result can be fatal hemorrhaging.

Aneurysm can develop in any of the main arteries. However, as the name implies, an aortic aneurysm affects the main artery leaving the heart, putting the entire body in danger.

Which Patients Are Most at Risk For Aortic Aneurysm?

Although the mechanism by which fluoroquinolones such as Levaquin cause aortic aneurysm is poorly understood, medical scientists have determined a number of risk factors. Those at greatest risk for aortic aneurysm following treatment with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic are the elderly, patients suffering from hypertension, have a history of embolism or other arterial blockage, and those with genetic disease affecting connective tissue, such as Marfan Syndrome Ehlers-Danlos.

In an interview with CNN, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that patients with one of the aforementioned conditions are “twice as likely to experience an aortic aneurysm or dissection when prescribed a fluoroquinolone drug.” However, for otherwise healthy patients, Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone drugs may still be the best treatment for bacterial infections.

Other Side Effects

This past summer, the FDA issued a warning that fluoroquinolones may cause dangerous, sudden drops in glucose levels and may lead to mental health issues. Other side effects may include muscle, joint and nervous system problems.

Currently, the FDA is warning physicians and patients about the risk of aortic aneurysm in certain patient populations, and is recommending that fluoroquinolone drugs be used only for simpler bacterial infections. Gottlieb says the FDA will continue to monitor fluoroquinolones for any additional safety issues and will continue to publish updates as new data is gathered.

Fluoroquinolone Lawsuits

In late October, Johnson and Johnson settled with nearly 850 plaintiffs who alleged that the drugmaker failed to warn patients about the dangers of tendon damage caused by Levaquin. Fluoroquinolone lawsuits against other pharmaceutical companies have been filed, citing peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). Currently, law firms are investigating the issue of fluoroquinolone drugs and aortic aneurysm.