With 4,488 patients, the COLCORONA study stands on par with the RECOVERY trial (N= 2,104). However, the RECOVERY trial focused on hospitalized patients, a population distinct from that studied in the COLCORONA trial. It also added colchicine to dexamethasone, and according to Dr. Pillinger, most rheumatologists would predict the combination to have little added value.
As another COVID-19 wave sweeps over North America, and hospitals in some regions are again becoming overwhelmed, Dr. Pillinger wants to draw the medical community’s attention to the benefits of colchicine in certain populations. He emphasizes the treatment is inexpensive, well-understood and can be stopped if ineffective. “Why would you not just go ahead and try it?” he asks.
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.
References
- Tardif JC, Bouabdallaoui N, L’Allier PL, et al. Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 (COLCORONA): A phase 3, randomized, double-blinded, adaptive, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2021 Aug;9(8):924–932.
- COVID-19 science update released: July 2, 2020, edition 27. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021 Jul 2.
- Nerlekar N, Beale A, Harper RW. Colchicine—a short history of an ancient drug. Med J Aust. 2014 Dec 11;201(11):687–688.
- Reyes AZ, Hu KA, Teperman J, et al. Anti-inflammatory therapy for COVID-19 infection: The case for colchicine. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021;80:550–557.
- Detereos SG, Giannapoulos G, Vrachatis DA, et al. Effect of colchicine vs standard care on cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019: The GRECCO-19 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3:e2013136.
- The RECOVERY Collaborative Group, Horby P, Lim WS, et al. Dexamethasone in hospitalized patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2021 Feb 25; 384(8):693–704.
