Yonsei Med J.  2008 Feb;49(1):171-173.

Two Cases of Acute Leukopenia Induced by Colchicine with Concurrent Immunosuppressants Use in Behcet's Disease

• Lee KY
• Kim DY
• Chang JY
• Bang D

Abstract

Colchicine-induced leukopenia usually occurrs in intentional or accidental overdoses or inappropriate use in combination with intravenous and oral colchine; however, there have been several reports of hematologic toxicity in short-term and small-dose colchicine medication courses. We present two cases of leukopenia induced by colchicine use concurrent with immunosuppressants in Behcet's disease. We postulate that the mechanism of colchicine-induced leukopenia might be the destruction of circulating leukocytes and an inhibition of leukocyte production by the immediate and direct toxic effect of colchicine on idiosyncrasies unique to each patient. The concurrently administered immunosuppressant might decrease the threshold for hematologic toxicity of colchicine in the leukocytes and their precursor cells.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; colchicine; leukopenia

MeSH Terms

Aged
Behcet Syndrome/*drug therapy
Blood Cell Count
Colchicine/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Leukopenia/*chemically induced
Middle Aged
Time Factors
Treatment Failure

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