Vancomycin during pregnancy: does it cause hearing loss or nephrotoxicity in the infant?

Article Abstract:

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a bacterium that causes a variety of infections, can be treated with antibiotic drug therapy. Some bacterial strains can become resistant to regular antibiotic therapy, however, so that the organism is no longer affected by the drug. In a population of intravenous drug users, strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus were responsible for half of the infections in that group. Although these resistant organisms can be treated with the antibiotic vancomycin, it carries some serious side effects. Vancomycin use can cause hearing losses as well as damage to the kidneys, or nephrotoxicity. Given in small doses to infants, it is considered safe. However, the effect on the fetus of higher adult doses given to the mother is unknown. Hearing and kidney functioning were evaluated in three groups of infants: those born to intravenous drug using mothers receiving vancomycin during pregnancy, those born to drug users not taking vancomycin, and those born to non-drug users not taking vancomycin. Out of 30 infants, six had hearing losses which went away within three months in five of the infants. The hearing loss that continued in one infant was unrelated to vancomycin drug therapy. Vancomycin did not affect the kidney function in any of the infants studied. It was concluded that vancomycin drug therapy for the mother during the last portion of pregnancy did not affect the hearing or kidney function of the infants.

Complications and side effects, Fetus, Vancomycin

---

Expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in stage III and IV ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas does not alter response to primary cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Article Abstract:

Drugs to prevent some of the side effects of the cancer drug cisplatin probably would not eliminate its therapeutic effect. The enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is involved in some side effects caused by cisplatin. Researchers tested tumor tissue samples from 18 women with ovarian cancer for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. Twelve women had a complete response to cisplatin and the level of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity had no effect on response rates. However, women with high gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity were likely to die sooner.

Ovarian cancer, Proteases, Chemotherapy

---

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity: inhibition of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase blocks the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin without reducing platinum concentrations in the kidney

Article Abstract:

The reduction in kidney toxicity seen in patients treated with acivicin or glutathione before cisplatin chemotherapy does not seem to be due to a reduction in platinum levels in the kidney. Platinum levels were measured in the kidney and urine of rats treated with either cisplatin alone or in combination with either acivicin or glutathione. Platinum levels in kidney tissue and urine samples were similar in all treatment groups. However, rats pretreated with acivicin or glutathione showed no evidence of kidney damage.

Physiological aspects, Antineoplastic agents, Glutathione

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Swansong for free degrees: what are the implications of the Dearing report for nursing students? Practice makes perfect
• Abstracts: Planning and carrying out a clinical study: the first steps. Winning ways with research proposals and reports
• Abstracts: Pediatric injury prevention: preparing residents for patient counseling. Intramuscular ketamine is superior to meperidine, promethazine, and chlorpromazine for pediatric emergency department sedation
• Abstracts: Clinical indications for hysterectomy route: patient characteristics or physician preference? Costs and charges associated with three alternative techniques of hysterectomy
• Abstracts: Making sense of ...parenteral nutrition in adult patients. Making sense of bowel preparation. Making sense of the care of patients with pancreatitis

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.