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open access

Vol 30, No 2 (2023)
Review Article
Submitted: 2021-08-07
Accepted: 2021-08-27
Published online: 2021-10-08
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Colchicine — From rheumatology to the new kid on the block: Coronary syndromes and COVID-19

Stanisław Surma1, Marcin Basiak1, Monika Romańczyk1, Krzysztof J. Filipiak2, Bogusław Okopień1
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2021.0123
·
Pubmed: 34642922
·
Cardiol J 2023;30(2):297-311.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland

open access

Vol 30, No 2 (2023)
Review articles — Clinical cardiology
Submitted: 2021-08-07
Accepted: 2021-08-27
Published online: 2021-10-08

Abstract

Colchicine is an effective anti-inflammatory agent used to treat gout, coronary artery disease, viral
pericarditis, and familial Mediterranean fever. It has been found to act by preventing the polymerization
of the protein called tubulin, thus inhibiting inflammasome activation, proinflammatory chemokines,
and cellular adhesion molecules. Accumulating evidence suggests that some patients with coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) suffer from “cytokine storm” syndrome. The ideal anti-inflammatory in this
setting would be one that is readily available, cheap, orally administered, with a good safety profile, well-
tolerated, and that prevents or modulates inflammasome activation. The researchers selected colchicine
for their study. This paper is a review of the literature describing the effects of colchicine, which is a drug
that is being increasingly used, especially when standard therapy fails. Colchicine was shown to reduce
inflammatory lung injury and respiratory failure by interfering with leukocyte activation and recruitment.
In this publication, we try to systematically review the current data on new therapeutic options for
colchicine. The article focuses on new data from clinical trials in COVID-19, rheumatic, cardiovascular,
and other treatment such as familial Mediterranean fever, chronic urticaria, and PFAPA syndrome
(periodic fever, aphthous, stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis). We also summarize new reports
on the side effects, drug interactions, and safety of colchicine.

Abstract

Colchicine is an effective anti-inflammatory agent used to treat gout, coronary artery disease, viral
pericarditis, and familial Mediterranean fever. It has been found to act by preventing the polymerization
of the protein called tubulin, thus inhibiting inflammasome activation, proinflammatory chemokines,
and cellular adhesion molecules. Accumulating evidence suggests that some patients with coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) suffer from “cytokine storm” syndrome. The ideal anti-inflammatory in this
setting would be one that is readily available, cheap, orally administered, with a good safety profile, well-
tolerated, and that prevents or modulates inflammasome activation. The researchers selected colchicine
for their study. This paper is a review of the literature describing the effects of colchicine, which is a drug
that is being increasingly used, especially when standard therapy fails. Colchicine was shown to reduce
inflammatory lung injury and respiratory failure by interfering with leukocyte activation and recruitment.
In this publication, we try to systematically review the current data on new therapeutic options for
colchicine. The article focuses on new data from clinical trials in COVID-19, rheumatic, cardiovascular,
and other treatment such as familial Mediterranean fever, chronic urticaria, and PFAPA syndrome
(periodic fever, aphthous, stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis). We also summarize new reports
on the side effects, drug interactions, and safety of colchicine.

Full Text:

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Keywords

colchicine, rheumatic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19

About this article
Title

Colchicine — From rheumatology to the new kid on the block: Coronary syndromes and COVID-19

Journal

Cardiology Journal

Issue

Vol 30, No 2 (2023)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

297-311

Published online

2021-10-08

Page views

4794

Article views/downloads

1550

DOI

10.5603/CJ.a2021.0123

Pubmed

34642922

Bibliographic record

Cardiol J 2023;30(2):297-311.

Keywords

colchicine
rheumatic diseases
cardiovascular diseases
COVID-19

Authors

Stanisław Surma
Marcin Basiak
Monika Romańczyk
Krzysztof J. Filipiak
Bogusław Okopień

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