Depression of erythropoiesis, physical growth, and hair growth by chloramphenicol in a three-year-old child with cystic fibrosis.

In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) of the pancreas, optic neuritis and 
peripheral neuritis have been reported to follow treatment with chloramphenicol. This 
toxic sequel appears to be related to the dosage and duration 
of therapy. In patients with other diseases who are treated with 
chloramphenicol, the risk of devastating bone marrow toxicity has been estimated 
to range from 1:40,000 to 1:100,000. We have found only two 
reports of patients with CF who had hematologic complications after treatment 
with chloramphenicol. We here report a 3-year-old girl who had selective 
depression of the erythroid bone marrow, anorexia, weight loss, temporary hair 
loss and retardation of growth after prolonged administration of chloramphenicol. 