Colchicine for the treatment of the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases: current evidence and ongoing perspectives

Abstract

Colchicine is one of the oldest drugs in medicine. Traditionally used to treat and prevent gouty attacks, it has been introduced into cardiovascular medicine for the treatment and prevention of pericarditis, starting from the positive experience in the treatment and prevention of polyserositis in familial mediterranean fever. Colchicine is a lipophilic drug that enters the cells and is eliminated by glycoprotein P. As granulocytes are lacking in this protein, colchicine is able to concentrate in these cells, exerting a substantial anti-inflammatory action, even with low oral doses. As these cells may trigger acute cardiovascular events, colchicine has been shown to be efficacious and safe to prevent acute coronary syndromes and ischemic stroke with an efficacy comparable to more established treatments, such as antiplatelet agents and statins. On this basis, colchicine seems a promising, efficacious, well tolerated, and cheap option for the prevention of several cardiovascular events, and it may become an additional pillar in the pharmacologic treatment of cardiovascular diseases.