Colchicine intoxication and infection risk: a case report

Colchicine is widely used, primarily for the treatment of gouty arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever. Colchicine intoxication is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Herein, we reported a 26-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department after ingesting 27.5 mg of colchicine in a suicide attempt. She exhibited signs typical of colchicine-poisoning and developed infectious complications but with subsequent complete recovery. This paper discusses the role of colchicine poisoning in increasing susceptibility to infections. This aspect is usually under-appreciated in the clinical picture of colchicine overdose.