Clinical Communication to the Editor
Potentially Reversible Rapid-Onset Weakness: Recognizing Colchicine Toxicity

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Case Report

A 66-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of rapidly progressive weakness affecting all limbs and neck, resulting in a bed-bound state the day before admission. Investigations revealed pancytopenia and elevated liver enzymes, and normal albumin, electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and C-reactive protein. Creatine kinase was high-normal. Creatinine and urea were not elevated beyond baseline levels (Table). Comorbidities included type 2 diabetes

Discussion

Combined neuropathy/myopathy is characteristic of colchicine toxicity and seen in only a few other entities, including alcohol abuse and toxicity from chloroquine, vincristine, and amiodarone.2 Thyroid dysfunction and uremia occasionally can lead to neuropathy/myopathy, but uremic neuropathy is predominantly sensory and the myopathy tends to spare neck muscles.3 Of note, our patient had no chloroquine or vincristine exposure, improved despite amiodarone continuation, and had normal

References (4)

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  • R.W. Kuncl et al.

    Colchicine myopathy and neuropathy

    N Engl J Med

    (1987)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

Funding: None.

Conflict of Interest: None.

Authorship: Both authors had access to the data and played a role in writing the manuscript.

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