Two cases of acute leukopenia induced by colchicine with concurrent immunosuppressants use in Behçet's disease.
Colchicine-induced leukopenia usually occurrs in intentional or accidental overdoses or inappropriate use in combination with intravenous and oral colchine; however, there have been several reports of hematologic toxicity in short-term and small-dose colchicine medication courses. We present two cases of leukopenia induced by colchicine use concurrent with immunosuppressants in Behçet's disease. We postulate that the mechanism of colchicine-induced leukopenia might be the destruction of circulating leukocytes and an inhibition of leukocyte production by the immediate and direct toxic effect of colchicine on idiosyncrasies unique to each patient. The concurrently administered immunosuppressant might decrease the threshold for hematologic toxicity of colchicine in the leukocytes and their precursor cells.
Lee
Kyu-Yeop
KY
Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Kim
Do Young
DY
Chang
Jae Yong
JY
Bang
Dongsik
D
D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003078:Colchicine