DOES COLCHICINE WORK? THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST CONTROLLED STUDY IN ACUTE GOUT

  1. M. J. AHERN1,*,
  2. C. REID2,
  3. T. P. GORDON3,
  4. M. McCREDlE4,
  5. P. M. BROOKS5,
  6. M. JONES6

Article first published online: 25 MAR 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1987.tb01232.x

Issue

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine

Volume 17, Issue 3, pages 301–304, June 1987

Additional Information

How to Cite

AHERN, M. J., REID, C., GORDON, T. P., McCREDlE, M., BROOKS, P. M. and JONES, M. (1987), DOES COLCHICINE WORK? THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST CONTROLLED STUDY IN ACUTE GOUT. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 17: 301–304. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1987.tb01232.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, SA

  2. 2

    Registrar in Rheumatology Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, SA

  3. 3

    NH & MRC Research Fellow, Department of Clincal Immunology, Flinders Medical Centre, SA

  4. 4

    Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Rheumatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW

  5. 5

    Florance and Cope Professor of Rheumatology, University of Sydney, NSW

  6. 6

    Biostatrstician, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW

* Dr M. J. Ahern, Department of Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 MAR 2008
  2. Article first published online: 25 MAR 2008
  3. Accepted for publication: 22 December 1986.

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Keywords:

  • Colchicine;
  • acute gout.

Abstract We have performed the first controlled study of colchicine in acute gout, to determine its efficacy and toxicity, and to define the natural history of acute gout.

Two-thirds of colchicine-treated patients improved after 48 hours, but only one-third of the patients receiving placebo demonstrated similar improvement. The colchicine-treated patients responded earlier; significant differences from placebo were shown after 18–30 hours.

All patients given colchicine developed diarrhea after a median time of 24 hours (mean dose of colchicine 6.7 mg). This side effect occurred before relief of pain in most patients.

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