Efficacy and Safety of Long-term Administration of Various Doses of Colchicine in Patients with Gout

to compare the efficacy and safety of different doses of colchicine (0.5 mg/day vs. 1.0 mg/day) used for the prevention of arthritis attacks in gout patients during the initiation of urate-lowering therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: -The study included 96 patients diagnosed with gout. Patients were randomized into three groups: those receiving colchicine 0.5 mg/day, those receiving colchicine 1 mg/day, and those without anti-inflammatory therapy. All participants were prescribed febuxostat 80 mg/day. The duration of the observation period was 6 months. The frequency and severity of arthritis attacks, as well as the incidence of adverse events, were compared. RESULTS: -Patients who did not receive colchicine experienced arthritis attacks more frequently compared to those receiving colchicine 0.5 mg/day (p = 0.03) and 1 mg/day (p = 0.007). In the groups receiving colchicine 0.5 and 1.0 mg/day, the frequency of attacks did not differ significantly (p = 0.6), nor did the proportion of patients who did not experience arthritis attacks (18 (56%) and 22 (69%), respectively, p = 0.3). Among the patients not taking colchicine, 9 (28%) did not develop arthritis attacks (p = 0.02 compared to those taking 0.5 mg/day and p = 0.001 for 1 mg/day). The administration of colchicine 1 mg/day (but not 0.5 mg/day) was associated with lower pain intensity on the visual analog scale (VAS) during arthritis attacks compared to the non-therapy group (p = 0.04). The frequency of adverse events was comparable across the groups. CONCLUSIONS: -The use of colchicine 0.5 mg/day for the prevention of arthritis attacks in gout patients is justified due to the absence of differences in efficacy compared to the higher dose. However, prescribing colchicine 1 mg/day also demonstrates a good safety profile and may be considered for the prevention of arthritis attacks.