title: Colchicine-induced myopathy in renal failure.
abstract: A 60 year-old woman with chronic renal failure developed acute proximal muscle weakness after receiving a regular dosage of colchicine. Elevation of muscle enzymes and electromyography were compatible with myopathy. Muscle biopsy revealed variation in muscle fiber size and few vacuolated fibers which were features of colchicine-induced myopathy. The clinical improvement and decreasing in muscle enzyme level occurred after colchicine withdrawal. Other potential causes of myopathy such as chronic renal failure and other drugs were ruled out. We suggested that colchicine should be used with caution in the presence of renal failure especially when other drugs which affect the metabolism of colchicine are also prescribed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinsawaiwong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phanthumchinda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jongpiputvanich
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine