Quinolone-associated tendonitis: a potential problem in COPD?
BACKGROUND
Quinolones have traditionally had limited application in the area of community-acquired respiratory tract infections due to poor cover against Streptococcus pneumoniae. This trend is changing with the broader spectrum of newer fluoroquinolones. A rare serious side effect of fluoroquinolones is tendinopathy.


OBJECTIVE
This study describes two cases of levofloxacin-associated tendinopathy in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the implications and mechanisms involved are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of two cases of levofloxacin-induced tendinopathy in our patients suggests that the problem may be more frequent than previously considered. Patients with COPD treated with fluoroquinolones may have other risk factors for tendinopathy such as advanced age, corticosteroid use and renal impairment and merit vigilance for signs of tendonitis.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
M W
MW
Butler
J F
JF
Griffin
W R
WR
Quinlan
T J
TJ
McDonnell
D000125:Achilles Tendon; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin