¶ … Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases released the findings of a group of stem-cell researchers working on improving the recovery of leukemia patients that received stem cell transplantations, in the article "Ciprofloxacin decreased polyoma BK virus load in patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation." The hypothesis of the study conducted was that Ciprofloxacin would be an effective treatment against a certain virus that affects patients, called Polyoma BK virus, or BKV, which is associated with hemorrhagic cystitis, a kind of serious bladder infection. The hypothesis was found to be true, and the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin will undergo further studies and clinical applications to determine the most effective uses against the BKV in post stem-cell transplant patients. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a common treatment used to treat leukemia. This is a type of transplant of stem cells from a donor into the patient, rather than a transplant of one's own stem cells. These stem cells are found in bone marrow, and they are the progenerators of red cells, white cells,...

It is defects in the creation of these blood cells which causes leukemia, therefore transplanting new stem cells to create healthy blood can save lives. Unfortunately, this transplantation of stem cells must usually be accompanied with high levels of systemic chemoradiation therapy in order to destroy the patient's own bone marrow so that the transplanted bone marrow will work. Hemorrhagic cystitis, or sudden appearance of blood in the urine accompanied by an irritated bladder, is a common symptom in post-transplant patients. It is common in large part because of the chemotherapy drugs which are broken down by the body and then passed through the bladder and urinary system, causing irritation and a weakened immune system. BKV is commonly associated with this bladder condition.
Patients undergoing treatment for this bladder condition that tested positive for this virus, after transplantation, were given either ciprofloxacin or a cephalosporin as an antibiotic. The urine was sampled every week, and levels of the virus itself and in vitro drug sensitivity were…