Anagen Effluvium Following Acute Colchicine Poisoning

We present a case of a 17-year-old girl admitted to the Psychiatric Department recovering from a suicide attempt with colchicine. One week after poisoning, a sudden onset of hair loss was observed. Positive hair pull test and trichoscopy demonstrated the presence of anagen hairs with pigmented long roots covered by the root sheaths. Colchicine poisoning is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening toxicologic emergency. An overdose of colchicine inhibits cell division, and thus the most affected organs are those which have a high rate of cell turnover. Hair loss resulting from colchicine poisoning presents as anagen effluvium, as it occurs with an exposure to toxic chemicals. Pharmacotherapy or specific treatment is not usually required, since the follicle resumes its normal activity after withdrawal of the antimitotic factors.