title: Colchicine-induced bone marrow suppression: treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
abstract: Bone marrow aplasia is a frequent complication of colchicine poisoning. This typically occurs on day 3 to 5 postexposure, and the blood cell counts remain depressed for a week or more. Unfortunately, because patients suffering from colchicine toxicity develop multiple organ complications and sepsis, the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow depression is high. In this article, we present three cases of colchicine toxicity in which granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used to treat bone marrow depression. In all three cases, there was a dramatic increase in the white cell count and, to a lesser extent, the platelet count. In view of the critical nature of the bone marrow depression and multi-organ toxicity induced by colchicine, we believe that consideration of the use of G-CSF to shorten the duration of neutropenia is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kark
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arunanthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D003078:Colchicine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003078:Colchicine