Myotonia in colchicine myoneuropathy

Muscle Nerve. 1996 Jul;19(7):870-5. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4598(199607)19:7<870::AID-MUS9>3.0.CO;2-6.

Abstract

Colchicine may induce a myoneuropathy in patients with renal insufficiency. To date, myotonia has not been described in this disorder. We recently studied 4 patients treated with routine doses of colchicine who, in the setting of renal insufficiency, developed a severe myoneuropathy characterized by prominent myotonic discharges on electromyography. In addition, 1 of the 4 patients had profound clinical myotonia. In the 3 patients in whom biopsies were performed, marked myopathic change with intracytoplasmic vacuolization was identified. All 4 patients improved rapidly with discontinuation of the medication. The patient in whom electrophysiologic studies were repeated had a complete resolution of the myotonic discharges. Colchicine myoneuropathy can present with prominent clinical and electrophysiologic myotonia that resolves completely with discontinuation of the medication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colchicine / adverse effects*
  • Colchicine / therapeutic use
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscles / pathology
  • Myotonia / chemically induced*
  • Myotonia / pathology
  • Myotonia / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / pathology
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / physiopathology

Substances

  • Colchicine