BACKGROUND: Ciprofloxacin is a broadspectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class. Since fluroquinolones are the most frequently prescribed in pregnancy particularly in the first trimester for the treatment of highly occurrence urinary tract infections, therefore this study was intended to evaluate the risk of the ciprofloxacin drug on development of fetuses of white albino rat (Rattus norvegicus) during pregnancy.
METHODS: Pregnant rats were orally administrated a dose of 155 mg/kg/day of ciprofloxacin from 5th day to 20th day of gestation. The Pregnant rats were sacrificed at 20thday of gestation. Fetuses were taken away from the uterus. The mortality rate, growth parameters, morphological and skeletal malformations were recorded, histopathological studies of brain, liver and kidney were evaluated.
RESULTS: The data revealed that There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in fetal body weight, fetal body length in treated group when compared with the control. Hematoma and congenital abnormalities of limbs were detected morphologically in the fetuses of maternally administrated group. Fetal skeletal anomalies included lack of bones ossification and bent ribs. Mild degenerative changes were observed in the liver, kidney as well as the brain following ciprofloxacin administration.
CONCLUSION: Consequently administration of ciprofloxacin during pregnancy should only be considered if the expected benefit to the mother is more noteworthy than any conceivable hazard to the fetus.
