FATAL INTOXICATION WITH COLCHICINE

FERHAT ARIK¹, BADE ERTURK ARIK², OZERHAN OZER¹, UGUR KALAN¹, NUR UYANIKER³, ALI CETINKAYA¹

¹Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey - ²Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Physicians, Kayseri, Turkey - ³TSGI Engineering & Construction Company, Department of Quality, Aliağa, İzmir, Turkey

Introduction: Colchicine is a medication with anti-inflammatory properties, which is used in gouty arthritis, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and consequently developing amyloidosis. Colchicine poisoning is associated with a bad outcome and can be fatal. Deaths generally occur because of hypovolemic shock and cardiovascular collapse or secondary to rapidly progressive multiorgan failure.

Case presentation: The present study is about a 20-year-old female patient who had taken 20 tablets of 0.5 mg/tb colchicine (0.2 mg/kg) for suicidal purpose. The treatments applied at each stage are explained with details.

Conclusion: Colchicine has a narrow therapeutic index and no clear-cut distinction between non-toxic, toxic, and lethal doses. In our case, the patient who had taken low-dose colchicine (0.2 mg/kg) died despite of all the treatments. Death with a such low dose is rare.