Mounting Evidence Supports Colchicine for Pericarditis

In a new trial, an old drug is a safe and beneficial adjunct to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, even in patients with multiple recurrences.

Previous trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of colchicine as an adjunct to conventional treatment in patients with acute pericarditis or first recurrences (NEJM JW Cardiol Sep 2 2013 and Sep 28 2011). To assess whether colchicine's effectiveness extends to multiple recurrences, investigators in Italy conducted the multicenter, double-blind, CORP-2 trial. They randomly assigned 240 patients with ≥2 recurrences of pericarditis to receive placebo or 0.5 mg colchicine (twice daily in patients heavier than 70 kg; once daily in those ≤70 kg) for 6 months. All participants also received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids.

During a mean follow-up of 20 months, the rate of pericarditis recurrence was about …

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Mounting Evidence Supports Colchicine for Pericarditis

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Reviewing Author