Description

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory medication primarily used to treat acute gout attacks and prevent gout flares. It works by inhibiting neutrophil chemotaxis and activation, thereby reducing inflammation in affected joints. Colchicine is particularly effective when administered early in a gout attack, typically within the first 12-24 hours of symptom onset. A landmark study by Ahern et al. (1987) demonstrated that low-dose colchicine is as effective as high-dose regimens with fewer side effects. More recently, the AGREE trial (Terkeltaub et al., 2010) showed that a low-dose colchicine regimen (1.8 mg over 1 hour) was as effective as the traditional high-dose regimen in treating acute gout, with significantly fewer adverse events. Despite its effectiveness, colchicine can cause gastrointestinal side effects and should be used cautiously in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.