Neutrophilic leukocyte inclusions in colchicine intoxication

Large, darkly staining, intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed in the neutrophils of a young woman after suicidal ingestion of colchicine. The polymorphonuclear neutrophils also contained intracytoplasmic and intranuclear vacuoles. Electron microscopy enabled further characterization of these morphologic changes that, although nonspecific, are consistent with certain known toxic effects of colchicine.