title: [Neuromuscular complications of long-term treatment of inflammatory diseases. 3 cases].
abstract: Chloroquine and colchicine, widely used in internal medicine practice for a variety of inflammatory diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, familial Mediterranean fever, and Behçet's disease, may induce neuromuscular complications. Physicians must be familiar with this diagnosis as this iatrogenic neuromuscular pathology may simulate polymyositis, leading thus to inappropriate treatment with prednisone whereas the only effective treatment is to discontinue the drug involved whenever possible. We report three cases of toxic myopathy and/or neuropathy related to chronic chloroquine or colchicine therapy for systemic diseases, and outline the main points to be considered in this situation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Delafontaine, Saint-Denis.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tattevin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arondelle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Margent
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Broucker De
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002738:Chloroquine; D003078:Colchicine