Resin hemoperfusion for chloramphenicol intoxication

A case report of a three kilogram, four month infant who received excessive doses of chloramphenicol for the treatment of bacterial meningitis is presented. The child was treated with resin hemoperfusion (XAD-4) to reduce her serum chloramphenicol concentration. Her treatment was complicated by hypocalcemia and thrombocytopenia. During hemoperfusion a mean clearance of chloramphenicol of 27.4 ml/min was achieved. This represents a significant improvement over normal body clearance (4.7 ml/min/kg) in pediatric patients. We conclude that using hemoperfusion is an effective modality which may be used as an adjunct to supportive therapy when there is a need to increase the body clearance of chloramphenicol.