PURPOSE: To evaluate the penetration capability of Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin into prostatic tissue, we analysed the concentration of each drug in serum and prostatic tissue simultaneously after oral administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated with transurethral resection of the prostate were entered in this study. A single dose of 200mg Levofloxacin(LVFX) and 250mg ciprofloxacin(CPFX) were administered orally. Two hours after administration, blood and prostatic tissue samples were taken during operation. Concentration of each drug in serum and prostatic tissue was measured simultaneously by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean concentration of LVFX in serum was 1.970 +/- 0.759 microgram/ml, which was significantly higher than that of CPFX(0.903 +/- 0.291 microgram /ml)(p < 0.05). The mean concentration of LVFX in prostatic tissue(2.256 +/- 1.121 microgram/g), however, was not significantly different from that of CPFX(2.395 +/- 0.846 microgram/g). And the concentration ratio(tissue/serum concentration) of LVFX and CPFX was 1.16 and 2.76, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that LVFX is not superior to CPFX with respect to the penetration capability into prostatic tissue. Considering that the concentration of LVFX in prostatic tissue was higher than that in serum and not different from that of CPH, LVFX may be another potential effective agent in treating patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Administration, Oral ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Humans ; Levofloxacin* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatitis