title: Long-term outcome after suicidal colchicine intoxication in a 14-year-old girl: case report and review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colchicine is used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of gout, familial Mediterranean fever, and Behçet disease. However, because of its potent inhibition of mitosis, adverse effects and symptoms of intoxication are frequent. Clinical manifestations of colchicine intoxication include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and multiorgan failure including cardiovascular collapse with fatal outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report here the case of a 14-year-old girl who ingested 12.5 mg (0.23 mg/kg body weight) colchicine in a suicide attempt.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major complaints of this fully conscious patient at the time of presentation ∼2 hours after ingestion of colchicine were nausea and impaired vision. Apart from a colchicine serum concentration of 16.2 ng/mL, no abnormalities were seen in the physical examination and blood tests. Gastrointestinal decontamination by activated charcoal, repeated administrations of sodium sulfate (Glauber salt) and substitution of volume and electrolytes led to complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Elisabeth-Hospital Essen, Germany. Kathi.Wasserscheid@gmx.de
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wasserscheid
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Backendorf
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michna
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mallmann
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine