Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
03:24
A Catheter-Related Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse
Published on: March 22, 2024
Colchicine intoxication and infection risk: a case report
1Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology Department, Ankara Research & Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drzeliha@hotmail.com
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
|July 11, 2008
Summary
Colchicine poisoning, though rare, can increase infection risk. This case report details a patient
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Colchicine is a common medication for gouty arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever.
- Colchicine overdose is a rare but serious condition with potentially fatal outcomes.
- Understanding the clinical manifestations of colchicine intoxication is crucial for effective management.
Observation:
- A 26-year-old woman intentionally ingested 27.5 mg of colchicine.
- The patient presented with symptoms consistent with severe colchicine poisoning.
- She subsequently developed infectious complications during her hospital stay.
Findings:
- The case highlights the potential for colchicine poisoning to impair immune function.
- Infectious complications were a significant aspect of the patient's presentation.
- Despite the severity, the patient achieved a complete recovery.
Implications:
- Colchicine overdose may increase susceptibility to infections, an often-underestimated clinical feature.
- Clinicians should be vigilant for infectious complications in patients with colchicine toxicity.
- This case underscores the importance of considering immune system effects in drug overdose scenarios.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
01:20Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most commonly caused by obstruction of the cystic duct. This blockage prevents bile from draining, leading to gallbladder distension, inflammation, and potentially serious complications. This condition may present acutely or chronically and can happen with or without gallstones.EtiologyAbout 95% of cholecystitis cases are calculous, caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct, leading to bile accumulation and inflammation of the gallbladder...
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
01:00Drug Toxicity: Overview
Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
01:16Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...