Fatal colchicine overdose: report of a case and review of the literature.
Colchicine poisoning is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening, toxicologic emergency. A case is reported of a 21-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department approximately 1 hour after ingesting 30 mg of colchicine in a suicide attempt. Her clinical course included gastrointestinal distress, metabolic acidosis, pancytopenia, hypotension, adult respiratory distress syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and hypocalcemia. Despite aggressive medical management, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and died 8 days after the ingestion. The clinical features of colchicine poisoning are highlighted and current therapeutic options are discussed.
Milne
S T
ST
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267-0769, USA.
Meek
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PD
D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood; D013405:Suicide
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine