%0 Journal Article
%T Epidemiology, toxicokinetics and biomarkers after self-poisoning with Gloriosa superba
%J Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
%D 2019
%A Wijerathna, Thilini Madushanka
%A Gawarammana, Indika Bandara
%A Mohamed, Fahim
%A Dissanayaka, Dhammika Menike
%A Dargan, Paul I.
%A Chathuranga, Umesh
%A Jayathilaka, Chamila
%A Buckley, Nicholas Alan
%V ePub
%N ePub
%P 1-7
%X INTRODUCTION: Gloriosa superba is a flowering plant that contains colchicine. Deliberate self-poisoning with this plant in Sri Lanka is common and potentially fatal. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, toxicokinetics and selected biomarkers in these patients. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of three parts; epidemiologic and outcome data (n = 297), concentrations and toxicokinetics (n = 72), evaluation of urinary and serum biomarkers (n = 45). Plasma colchicine levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We also measured serum biomarkers: creatinine (sCr), cystatin C (sCysC) and creatine kinase (CK), and urinary biomarkers: creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM - 1), clusterin, albumin, beta-2-microglobulin (β2M), cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), osteopontin (OPN) and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3). <br><br>RESULTS: The case fatality was 10% (29/297), and death was much more common in older patients. Median concentrations of colchicine were higher in those over 65 [median 4.7 ng/mL (IQR: 1.7-6.6) vs. 1.2 (IQR: 0.2-2.7) for those <35]. Admission colchicine concentrations were highly correlated with a fatal outcome [median 7.8 ng/ml (IQR: 5.8-18.7) vs 1.2 (0-2.3) in survivors]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for uncorrected admission colchicine level was highly predictive of a fatal outcome, and this improved even further with two methods we developed to correct for the expected change with time. The best method had an AUC-ROC of 0.98 (95%CI 0.94-1.00) in predicting death, with 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity at the best cut-point. <br><br>DISCUSSION: Fatal outcomes and high concentrations were both much more common in the elderly following poisoning with Gloriosa superba. Our findings are consistent with kinetic data after medicinal colchicine ingestion. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Gloriosa superba self-poisoning causes significant mortality. High concentration of colchicine is highly predictive of a fatal outcome. Ingestion of Gloriosa superba caused only mild acute kidney injury (AKI) and rhabdomyolysis.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Informa - Taylor and Francis Group
%@ 1556-3650
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2019.1581939