Colchicine myoneuropathy in chronic renal failure patients with gout

Colchicine myoneuropathy is a rare and often underdiagnosed disease. It often presents as painless subacute muscle weakness. We present a case of painful colchicine myoneuropathy in a 76-year-old man with chronic renal failure and gout. Published work about clinical presentations of colchicine myoneuropathy in gouty arthritis patients are reviewed. During the previous year, the patient had a drug regimen of colchicine 0.5 mg three times per day for a 3 day course each month. He developed bilateral lower leg weakness and severe myalgia. His serum creatinine level was 680.7 micromol/L and creatinine kinase was 959 IU/L on admission. Laboratory findings included decreasing amplitude of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity and an electromyogram showed small amplitude, short duration polyphasic waves over the right biceps. A muscle biopsy disclosed vacuolar changes in the cytoplasm. These results all supported a diagnosis of colchicine myoneuropathy. After cessation of colchicine, the creatinine kinase level decreased approximately 50% in 6 days, myalgia subsided and his muscle weakness improved gradually over the next 2 weeks.