A clinical and immunologic study of colchicine in asthma.
A double-blind, randomized, crossover chronic study was done to determine the efficacy of colchicine in 10 atopic patients with asthma. A constant dose of sustained-release theophylline and albuterol by inhalation, as needed, was administered. Compared to placebo, colchicine, 0.5 mg twice daily, significantly reduced the mean (+/- SEM) daily clinical score from 2.18 +/- 0.34 to 1.64 +/- 0.32 (p less than 0.05), and the daily number of inhalations of albuterol from 5.89 +/- 1.48 to 4.01 +/- 1.26 (p less than 0.02). Colchicine significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell function from 16.2 +/- 4.6% to 39.0 +/- 10.7%, which was similar to healthy volunteers (41.1 +/- 3.5%). Furthermore, colchicine significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased serum IgE from 248 +/- 63 to 188 +/- 46 IU/ml. Colchicine had no significant effect on pulmonary function tests, the early phase reaction of antigen-induced bronchial inhalation challenge, and immediate skin test responses. Thus, colchicine has immunomodulatory effects that may perhaps have a mild benefit in the treatment of asthma.
Schwarz
Y A
YA
Institute of Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel.
Kivity
S
S
Ilfeld
D N
DN
Schlesinger
M
M
Greif
J
J
Topilsky
M
M
Garty
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012882:Skin Tests; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013806:Theophylline; D000420:Albuterol; D003078:Colchicine