Acute leukaemia colchicine

Amongst these mitotic inhibitors are the Vinca alkaloids isolated from Vinca rosea, the periwinkle plant, of which vincristine and vinblastine are used chemically in the treatment of malignant disease, in particular acute leukaemia. Colchicine, used for many centuries in the treatment of gout, is isolated from the autumn crocus. Griseofulvin, and podophyllotoxin, are isolated from the resin of Podo-phyllum peltatum and used popularly in the treatment of warts. 

Witwer MW, Schmid FR, Tesar JT. Acute myelomonocytic leukaemia and multiple myeloma after sulphinpyra-zoue aud colchicine treatment of gout. BMJ 1976 2(6027) 89. 

Bone marrow depression and agranulocytosis have been observed after therapeutic doses of colchicine (202, 203 ). Fatal bone marrow depression occurred in a 70-year-old man with gout shortly after operation for perforation of a gastric ulcer associated with administration of phenylbutazone. He had been given 12 mg of colchicine intravenously over a period of 5 days (202 ). Acute myelomonocytic leukaemia and multiple myeloma occurred in 3 of 25 patients with gout given sulphinpyrazone and colchicine. Colchicine was taken intermittently and for shorter periods than the sulphinpyrazone (204 ). 

---