Fatal colchicine toxicity: report of a case

This report describes fatal colchicine toxicity occurring after a total dose of 9.3 mg. The reaction was characterized by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypotension. disseminated intravascular coagulation and metabolic acidosis. Autopsy findings included a markedly hypocellular bone marrow, epithelial atypia of the trachea and esophagus, mid-zonal hepatic necrosis, sepsis and small vessel occlusion by fibrin thrombi. Possible mechanisms of colchicine toxicity are discussed.