Colchicine-induced lactose malabsorption in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.
Abdominal pain and diarrhea are frequent side effects of chronic colchicine therapy. Drug-induced lactose deficiency has been demonstrated in the experimental animal. Lactose malabsorption was assessed by the lactose breath test in 23 patients with familial Mediterranean fever ( FMF) receiving colchicine for 0.25-15 years (mean 3.16). Twenty FMF patients not receiving colchicine and 38 non- FMF lactose malabsorbers served as controls. Patients receiving colchicine had a significantly higher percentage of lactose malabsorption (20/23, 87%) versus nontreated FMF patients (13/20, 65%; P < 0.05). Lactose intolerance was also more prevalent in colchicine-treated patients (17/23, 74%) versus nontreated FMF (5/20, 25%; P < 0.0005) and control lactose malabsorbers (16/38, 42%; P < 0.01). Of the 12 patients investigated before and 3 months after colchicine administration, 7 showed induction or aggravation of lactose malabsorption. The lactose-free diet resulted in partial improvement of symptoms. Colchicine induces significant lactose malabsorption in FMF patients and this is partially responsible for the gastrointestinal side effects of the drug.[1]References
- Colchicine-induced lactose malabsorption in patients with familial Mediterranean fever. Fradkin, A., Yahav, J., Zemer, D., Jonas, A. Isr. J. Med. Sci. (1995) [Pubmed]
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