title: Unsuspected colchicine overdose in a female patient presenting as an acute abdomen.
abstract: We report a case of multi-system organ failure as a result of unsuspected colchicine overdose in a patient with known gout and bulimia nervosa. The patient had initially presented with mild gastrointestinal symptoms with rapid progression to fulminant hepatic failure and multiple organ dysfunction before the causative agent was identified. The patient survived with aggressive intensive care support and ongoing medical treatment. Physicians should be aware of the risk assessment based on the ingested dose, that the clinical presentation of colchicine in toxic doses may be nonspecific with high potential for severe morbidity or death and that survival may occur despite multiple organ failure requinng aggressive support.
authors.affiliation: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Blackham
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Augustson
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: MacQuillan
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000188:drug therapy; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine