Amphotericin inhibition of hematopoiesis in vitro.

The effect of amphotericin B on human and murine hematopoiesis was studied in vitro using assays for erythroid and myeloid colony-forming cells. Amphotericin consistently inhibited colony formation by erythroid and granulocyte-monocyte progenitor cells. Clear effects were observable at amphotericin concentrations of 1.0 microgram/ml, and concentrations of 2.0 microgram/ml caused approximately 50-60% inhibition of cloning of both murine and normal human bone marrow. These data suggest that amphotericin, in concentrations achieved in therapy, can impair hematopoiesis by a direct effect on precursor cells.