RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Colchicine induced rhabdomyolysis
JF Postgraduate Medical Journal
JO Postgrad Med J
FD The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
SP 191
OP 192
DO 10.1136/pmj.77.905.191
VO 77
IS 905
A1 I Chattopadhyay
A1 H G M Shetty
A1 P A Routledge
A1 J Jeffery
YR 2001
UL http://pmj.bmj.com/content/77/905/191.abstract
AB A case of colchicine induced rhabdomyolysis is reported. A 73 year old man with ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, chronic congestive cardiac failure, and chronic gout presented with diffuse muscle pain. He had been taking an increased dose of colchicine (1.5 mg daily) for an exacerbation of gout for six weeks before the presentation. Investigations confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and discontinuation of colchicine resulted in resolution of clinical and biochemical features of rhabdomyolysis. Although neuromuscular adverse effects of colchicine are well recognised, rhabdomyolysis is rare and this is only the fourth reported case of colchicine induced rhabdomyolysis in the literature. Colchicine may cause myoneuropathy, myotonia and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis. Colchicine induced myotoxicity may occur in presence of normal renal function. Cautious dosing of colchicine is important especially in presence of renal impairment. Any patient on colchicine should be monitored for neuromuscular adverse effects.