Colchicine-induced myopathy with myotonia in a patient with chronic renal failure

Although colchicine induced myopathy has been described in patients with chronic renal failure, colchicine induced myopathy with myotonia has been reported very rarely. A 49-year-old man with chronic renal failure was hospitalised for investigation of fatigue, malaise and severe pain in all extremities. He was on colchicine therapy for 5 months. Neurological examination showed mildly decreased sensation in a distal symmetric pattern in lower extremities, moderate proximal limb weakness, hyporeflexia and severe myalgia on palpation. No clinical evidence of myotonia was present. Laboratory studies showed elevated creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Electromyographic (EMG) findings were compatible with myopathy and abundant, widespread myotonic discharges were determined. Muscle biopsy was consistent with vacuolar myopathy. After withdrawal of colchicine, CK, LDH, AST and ALT levels were normalised and the symptoms were disappeared gradually. In conclusion, the detection of myopathic motor unit potentials with myotonic discharges on EMG in patients on colchicine therapy is an important finding and it is possible to suggest that this clue may lead to the invasive procedure of muscle biopsy unnecessary. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.