The present study aimed to determine the effects of ceftriaxone on hematological parameters and lipid profile in the normal and infected rat after treatment with ceftriaxone (1g) intramuscularly. Sixty male rats were randomly divided into five groups containing twelve rats per group. Group I as control were given feed and water, Group II was treated with 180mg/kg, Group III treated with 360mg/kg, Group IV was infected with E.coli and treated with 180mg/kg, and Group V was infected with E.coli and treated with 360mg/kg. Rats were treated at intervals of 24 hours for 5 consecutive days, thereafter blood samples for hematological and lipid profile examination were collected using EDTA and plain sample bottles, respectively, by sacrificing three rats from each group per day on the first, fourth, seventh, and fourteenth day after treatment. Hematology results showed a significant increase in PCV values, while Hb and RBC were significantly decreased. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly increased while the Mean corpuscular hemoglobin was significantly decreased. The White blood cell (WBC), Neutrophils, and Lymphocyte counts were significantly decreased while the Eosinophil and Monocyte counts were significantly increased. Lipid profile results showed a significant in Cholesterol levels, while triglyceride levels were significantly increased. HDLC was significantly decreased. The results of this present study indicate that ceftriaxone can cause hypochromic macrocytic anemia, Leukocytopenia, Neutropenia, Lymphopenia, Eosinophilia, Monocytosis, and dyslipidemia. Therefore this drug may not be safe to administer in patients that have established cases of anemia and cardiac abnormalities.
Keywords: anemia, dyslipidemia, immunosuppression
