Pharmacokinetic study of chloramphenicol in patients with liver disease.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous chloramphenicol has been studied in 42 patients with liver disease and in 8 controls. The half-life of chloramphenicol (t 1/2) was increased in the various liver disorders, the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) were decreased and the area under the time - concentrations curve (AUC) showed an increase. The t 1/2 of chloramphenicol showed a significant correlation with serum albumin and prothrombin time index.