New Data on Colchicine Bring Conflicting Results

Colchicine shows positive cardiovascular results in one randomized, controlled study, neutral results in another, and worrisome noncardiovascular mortality data.

Inflammation promotes atherosclerosis and clinical events; thus, interest is growing in anti-inflammatory therapies for cardiovascular prevention. In 2019, the COLCOT trial (NEJM JW Cardiol Jan 2020 and N Engl J Med 2019; 381:2497) showed benefits of colchicine, a drug with anti-inflammatory properties, in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI). Two randomized, controlled trials now evaluate colchicine in other patient populations.

Nidorf and colleagues (ACTRN12614000093684) studied colchicine (0.5 mg once daily) versus placebo in 5522 patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD; mean age, 66; 15% female). At a median follow-up of 29 months, the primary endpoint (composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous [nonprocedural] …

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)