Key investigations

Key investigations for colchicine poisoning are guided by the patient’s clinical condition. Consider:

• serum electrolyte, urea and creatinine concentrations
• serum creatine kinase concentration
• liver biochemistry
• blood gas analysis
• blood lactate concentration
• serum troponin concentration
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• bedside echocardiogram
• coagulation screening
• full blood count.

Although a high serum colchicine concentration has been shown to correlate closely with fatality, measurement of serum colchicine concentration is not readily available and cannot be used to guide acute management.