PEFLOXACIN IN ADRIAMYCIN-INDUCED NEPHROTIC SYNDROME IN THE RAT

Background. Pefloxacin, a fluorinated 4-quinolone, has recently been a dvocated as a first-line treatment for minimal-change nephropathy (MCN ) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To further evaluate th is issue we have utilized an animal model resembling human MCN, namely adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in Wistar male rats. Methods. A driamycin at a dose of 7 mg/kg was injected intravenously to all rats at day zero. Rats were divided into two groups: group A (n=20) given o nly water served as the control group while group B (n = 19) was admin istered pefloxacin at 150 mg/kg. At days 7, 14, 21 and 28, the rats we re placed in metabolic cages and daily proteinuria determined. Results . The nephrotic syndrome developed in all rats within 7 days of adriam ycin administration. At day 7, proteinuria in group B was 173 +/- 78 v s 423 +/- 626 mg/day in group A, P<0.02, but thereafter at days 14, 21 and 28, no significant difference in urinary protein excretion was no ted. Conclusions. These results suggest that in this animal model of N S mimicking human MCN, pefloxacin's antiproteinuric effect is only of a mild and transitory nature. In view of the above data and the overal l results in human patients (detailed herein), the use of pefloxacin a s definitive treatment of the NS cannot be recommended.