title: Two probable cases of serious drug interaction between clarithromycin and colchicine.
abstract: Although colchicine is a commonly used medication in patients with gouty arthritis and various multisystem disorders, its safety margin in therapeutic use is not well understood. This report describes two fatal cases of agranulocytosis presumed to result from a drug interaction involving colchicine and clarithromycin.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Vincent C C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D017291:Clarithromycin; D003078:Colchicine