Description

Colchicine poisoning may be fatal due to several mechanisms, especially during the second phase of the intoxication. Some patients develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with a few patients developing the Waterhouse Friderichsen Syndrome. The coagulopathy may occur alone or in conjunction with other organ failures.


Clinical findings:

(1) bleeding

(2) petechiae and/or purpura

(3) hypotension or shock

(4) bilateral adrenal hemorrhage

 

Laboratory findings:

(1) thrombocytopenia

(2) schistocytes in the peripheral blood smear

(3) elevated fibrin split (degradation) products

(4) hypofibrinogenemia

 

Some cases may occur in the presence of sepsis.

 

Biopsy of an affected organ may show microthrombi in small blood vessels


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.