Bone-Marrow Hypoplasia Following Use of Chloramphenicol Eye Drops

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Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT of bone-marrow hypoplasia, depression of erythropoiesis, and aplastic anemia following ingestion of chloramphenicol have been well documented.1 This report presents the previously undescribed development of marrow hypoplasia following the use of chloramphenicol eye drops in a patient with a family history of fatal aplastic anemia produced by ingestion of chloramphenicol. Report of a Case A 36-year-old white male, director of personnel, presented with complaints of intermittent epistaxis for three months, daily bleeding of the gums for three weeks, and weakness for one week. His history revealed the use of chloramphenicol eye drops, 0.5% in an aqueous solution, prescribed when he complained that his eyes appeared reddened. For the past 23 months, he used these eye drops on an average of two out of three days, estimating that the original prescription was refilled about 25 times without medical supervision. The eye drops produced no local inflammation or evidence

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