Fatal Cardiovascular Collapse Following Acute Colchicine Ingestion

Abstract

Fatal outcomes are possible even with colchicine doses less than 0.5 mg/kg. Physicians caring for colchicine-poisoned patients must be prepared for the possibility of acute cardiovascular collapse and ventricular dysrhythmias regardless of the reported dose of colchicine.

Acute colchicine overdose: report of three cases

“…Co-administration of colchicine with statins may lead to statin-associated autoimmune-necrotizing myopathy, causing myopathy and induced further rhabdomyolysis (9). Even, positive past medical history for alcoholism and hepatitis C have been suggested to negatively enhance the toxicity caused by colchicine (10). All of our patients were otherwise healthy and did not consume any medication that could interact with colchicine.…”

Assessment of 17 Pediatric Cases With Colchicine Poisoning in a 2-Year Period

“…2 However, cardiogenic shock and death also occurred with doses less than 0.5 mg/kg. 11 These different pictures shown by the cases can be explained with varying dissolution rate of colchicine tablets, the pH at the absorption site, and interindividual variations in gastric emptying and enteral motility. In this study, all cases except for one were exposed to toxicity at the dose of less than 0.5 mg/kg.…”

Colchicine-related death presenting as an unknown case of multiple organ failure

“…Colchicine deaths generally result from cardiovascular collapse and fatal dysrhythmias within the first 72 h (11,12). Hypovolemia and electrolyte disturbances resulting from gastrointestinal toxicity may significantly contribute to impaired cardiac performance (3).…”