Myotonia in colchicine myoneuropathy.
Colchicine may induce a myoneuropathy in patients with renal insufficiency. To date, myotonia has not been described in this disorder. We recently studied 4 patients treated with routine doses of colchicine who, in the setting of renal insufficiency, developed a severe myoneuropathy characterized by prominent myotonic discharges on electromyography. In addition, 1 of the 4 patients had profound clinical myotonia. In the 3 patients in whom biopsies were performed, marked myopathic change with intracytoplasmic vacuolization was identified. All 4 patients improved rapidly with discontinuation of the medication. The patient in whom electrophysiologic studies were repeated had a complete resolution of the myotonic discharges. Colchicine myoneuropathy can present with prominent clinical and electrophysiologic myotonia that resolves completely with discontinuation of the medication.
Rutkove
S B
SB
Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
De Girolami
U
U
Preston
D C
DC
Freeman
R
R
Nardin
R A
RA
Gouras
G K
GK
Johns
D R
DR
Raynor
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009222:Myotonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D003078:Colchicine