Colchicine reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and ischaemia-driven revascularization by over 30% in patients with coronary syndromes.
Does colchicine reduce cardiovascular events in patients with acute/recurrent pericarditis and acute/chronic coronary syndromes?
This review highlights that low-dose colchicine is safe and effective for preventing pericarditis recurrence and reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary syndromes.
Effect estimate: RR 0.63 (95% CI 0.49-0.81)
Colchicine is a unique, sophisticated anti-inflammatory agent that has been used for decades for the prevention of acute inflammatory flares in gout and familial Mediterranean fever. In recent years, clinical trials have demonstrated its potential in a range of cardiovascular (CV) conditions. Colchicine is avidly taken up by leucocytes, and its ability to bind to tubulin and interfere with microtubular function affects the expression of cytokines and interleukins, and the ability of neutrophils to marginate, ingress, aggregate, express superoxide, release neutrophil extracellular traps, and interact with platelets. In patients with acute and recurrent pericarditis, clinical trials in >1600 patients have consistently shown that colchicine halves the risk of recurrence relative risk (RR) 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.60. In patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes, multicentre randomized controlled trials in >11 000 patients followed for up to 5 years demonstrated that colchicine may reduce the risk of CV death, myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and ischaemia-driven revascularization by >30% (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81). The use of colchicine at doses of 0.5-1.0 mg daily in CV trials has proved safe. Early gastrointestinal intolerance limits its use in ∼10% of patients; however, ∼90% of patients tolerate it well over the long term. Despite isolated case reports, clinically relevant drug interactions with moderate to strong CYP3A4 inhibitors/competitors or P-glycoprotein inhibitors/competitors are rare if this dosage of colchicine is used in the absence of advanced renal or liver disease. The aim of this review is to summarize the contemporary data supporting the efficacy and safety of colchicine in patients with CV disease.
Imazio et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease (acute and chronic coronary syndromes, pericarditis) (n=11,000). Colchicine vs. Placebo or standard of care was evaluated on Composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and ischaemia-driven revascularization (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81). Colchicine reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and ischaemia-driven revascularization by over 30% in patients with coronary syndromes.