Colchicine-Induced Myopathy in Renal Failure
SUWANNA SINS A WAIWONG, M.D.*, KAMMANT PHANTHUMCHINDA, M.D.*, SUNGKOM JONGPIPUTVANICH, M.D.**
Affiliation : *Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Abstract A 60 year-old woman with chronic renal failure developed acute proximal muscle weak- ness after receiving a regular dosage of colchicine. Elevation of muscle enzymes and electromyo- graphy were compatible with myopathy. Muscle biopsy revealed variation in muscle fiber size and few vacuolated fibers which were features of colchicine-induced myopathy. The clinical improve- ment and decreasing in muscle enzyme level occurred after colchicine withdrawal. Other potential causes of myopathy such as chronic renal failure and other drugs were ruled out. We suggested that colchicine should be used with caution in the presence of renal failure especially when other drugs which affect the metabolism of colchicine are also prescribed.
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