Effect of Cefixime on the Liver of male Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the histopathological and biochemical responses of the liver in adult male Swiss albino rats following oral administration of cefixime (Suprax®), a third-generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic. The study included sixteen animals, aged four months, which were equally divided into two groups: a control group and a treatment group. The treatment group received a daily oral dose of cefixime equivalent to the approved therapeutic dose of 1.33 mg/kg body weight for thirty consecutive days. Liver tissue specimens were collected and processed for histopathological examination using routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Biochemical parameters were assessed by measuring serum liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), along with total bilirubin levels. Histopathological examination of hepatic tissues from the treatment group revealed statistically significant degenerative alterations, comprising focal hepatocellular ballooning degeneration (swollen hepatocytes), necrotic foci, marked karyopyknosis (nuclear condensation), dilation of hepatic sinusoids, and periportal lymphocytic infiltration. In contrast, liver sections from the control group retained their normal intact histological architecture. These morphological changes were associated with a marked elevation in serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, urea, and creatinine when compared to the control group values. These findings are in agreement with the well-established scientific literature that confirms the association of cephalosporin compounds with hepatotoxic syndromes, although the minor discrepancies observed in enzyme kinetics may reflect the temporal characteristics of the specific dose regimen employed in this study. The study concludes that continuous or cumulative therapeutic doses of cefixime possess the potential to induce dose-dependent hepatocellular injury, thereby necessitating meticulous and continuous monitoring of hepatic function during the clinical application of this antibiotic