J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2008 Dec;6(2):138-141.

A Case of Colchicine Intoxication Presenting as Acute Gastroenteritis

• Ahn JY
• Sohn YD
• Kwon HS
• Ahn HC

Abstract

A 47-year-old woman ingested about 12 mg of colchicine with suicidal intent. Colchicine, a highly poisonous alkaloid, is a commonly used treatment for gout, Bechet's disease, and familial Mediterranean fever. Despite the knowledge of its side effects, the risk of a significant overdose is under-appreciated. She suffered from acute multisystem toxicity, including gastrointestinal disorders, bone marrow suppression, alopecia, and probable pancreatitis, but she ultimately recovered with supportive therapy. We report a case of acute colchicine toxicity from a single overdose with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Colchicine; Poisoning; Gastroenteritis; Pancreatitis

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Bone Marrow
Colchicine
Familial Mediterranean Fever
Female
Gastroenteritis
Gout
Humans
Middle Aged
Pancreatitis
Colchicine