Prophylactic Colchicine Therapy in Familial Mediterranean Fever

Chronic colchicine therapy has been advocated for suppression of the painful, febrile paroxysms of familial Mediterranean fever. To evaluate the effect of this treatment, a controlled, double-blind study with colchicine and placebo was conducted on 10 selected patients for a 6-month period. Either colchicine, 0.6 mg, or placebo was given orally at a dosage of one tablet three times a day for 3 months; then the other agent was administered for an additional 3 months. Fifty-nine attacks occurred in nine patients during the placebo trial, but there were only five in two patients during colchicine therapy. The results are statistically significant (P < 0.002) and suggest that chronic colchicine administration may be effective in preventing attacks in this disorder.