title: Toxic encephalopathy due to colchicine--Gloriosa superba poisoning.
abstract: Gloriosa superba, a flowering plant widespread in South and Southeast Asia, is implicated in many cases of self-poisoning. Colchicine is concentrated in the seeds and tubers and this mediates its toxicity. We describe a 28-year-old woman who developed delayed encephalopathy after eating G superba tubers. MR scan of brain showed bilateral symmetrical T2 basal ganglia hyperintensities in the caudate and lentiform nuclei. The delay in onset of encephalopathy is attributable to a direct-effect colchicine, probably mediated through its effect on microtubular transport.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Inuka Kishara
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Gooneratne
authors.affiliation: University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Panadura, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weeratunga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldera
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Ranjanie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gamage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: colchicine; plant poisoning