ENHANCED ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFICACY OF NSAID–ANTIBIOTIC COMBINATIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL SUBACUTE INFLAMMATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22551/MSJ.2025.04.10Abstract
Subacute inflammation represents a transitional stage between acute and chronic inflammatory processes, characterized by fibroblast proliferation and granulomatous tissue development. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and ketoprofen are widely used to control these processes. Some antibiotics, including cefuroxime and levofloxacin, have also been reported to exhibit secondary anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory effects. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory efficacy of these agents, administered individually or in combination, using the cotton pellet-induced granuloma model in rats. Materials and methods: Adult Wistar rats were divided into experimental groups receiving intraperitoneal doses of NSAIDs and antibiotics alone or in combination. Granulomatous tissue formation was assessed after subcutaneous implantation of sterile cotton pellets, and the degree of inflammation was evaluated by measuring granuloma development and comparing it across treatment groups. Results: Both NSAIDs produced clear reductions in granuloma formation compared with the untreated control group, confirming their significant anti-inflammatory potential. Levofloxacin showed a moderate inhibitory effect, consistent with its reported cytokine-suppressive and immunomodulatory properties, whereas cefuroxime exhibited minimal influence on inflammatory tissue growth. When combined, NSAIDs and antibiotics produced a greater reduction in granuloma formation than either agent alone, with diclofenac-based combinations showing the strongest overall activity. Conclusions: The findings indicate that diclofenac and ketoprofen effectively suppress subacute inflammatory responses, and that levofloxacin may contribute complementary immunomodulatory effects. Combined administration enhances the anti-inflammatory outcome, suggesting a potential pharmacological synergy between NSAIDs and certain antibiotics in conditions involving both infection and inflammation.
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