A Fatal Case of Aplastic Anemia Following Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) Therapy

Case Reports1 December 1950A FATAL CASE OF APLASTIC ANEMIA FOLLOWING CHLORAMPHENICOL (CHLOROMYCETIN) THERAPYMURRAY L. RICH, M.D., F.A.C.P., ROBERT J. RITTERHOFF, M.D., ROBERT J. HOFFMANN, M.D.MURRAY L. RICH, M.D., F.A.C.P., ROBERT J. RITTERHOFF, M.D., ROBERT J. HOFFMANN, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-33-6-1459 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptChloramphenicol (chloromycetin) has been widely used as an effective antibiotic with little regard to the possibility that it might cause serious toxic reactions. As is sometimes true with new preparations, these reactions may not appear until the drug has been administered to a rather large group of patients. We wish to report a case of fatal aplastic anemia following the prolonged administration of chloromycetin. As far as we can determine, this is the first report of such a reaction occurring during the use of this antibiotic.CASE REPORTA white male, age 63, was admitted to St. Elizabeth's Hospital on...Bibliography1. KrackeParker RRFP: The etiology of granulopenia (agranulocytosis): with particular reference to the drugs containing the benzene ring, J. Lab. and Clin. Med. 19: 799, 1934. Google Scholar2. MalloryGallBrickley TBEAWJ: Chronic exposure to benzene (benzol). III. The pathologic results, J. Indust. Hyg. and Toxicol. 21: 355-393, 1939. Google Scholar3. DennyMenten HMML: Blood changes related to sulfonamide therapy, Am. J. M. Sc. 211: 650-665, 1946. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. Hamilton A: Benzene (benzol) poisoning, Arch. Path. 11: 434, 454, 1939. Google Scholar5. Jordan HE: Aplastic anemia with special reference to the significance of the small lymphocytes, Arch. Path. 27: 1-14, 1939. Google Scholar6. LiebowWarrenDeCoursey AASE: Pathology of atomic bomb casualties, Am. J. 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