Fatal colchicine poisoning

In two cases, after i.v. injections of colchicine serum concentrations of 170 ng/ml and 240 ng/ml were found before death. Colchicine was extracted from serum with the aid of Extrelut extraction columns and analysed using HPLC. Urine was also analysed and the findings were confirmed by drawing a UV-curve for colchicine using the stop-flow method. In one case, colchicine was still detectable in urine 10 days after injection.