Colchicine treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis.
OBJECTIVE
There is no medical treatment of documented benefit in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Colchicine has been observed to reduce mortality in primary biliary cirrhosis in one study. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of colchicine in PSC.


METHODS
Eighty-four patients with PSC were randomized to receive 1 mg of colchicine daily (n = 44) or placebo (n = 40) in a double-blind 3-year study. The effect of treatment was evaluated through blind scoring of 10 variables in prestudy and poststudy liver biopsy specimens, daily recording of symptoms, and biochemical tests (serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, immunoglobulins, ceruloplasmin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and plasma prothrombin levels) at 6-month intervals.


RESULTS
There was no evidence of a favorable effect of colchicine on survival, symptoms, serum biochemistry, or liver histology in patients with PSC.


CONCLUSIONS
One milligram of colchicine daily is ineffective in PSC.
Olsson
R
R
Medical Clinics, Sahlgren's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Broomé
U
U
Danielsson
A
A
Hägerstrand
I
I
Järnerot
G
G
Lööf
L
L
Prytz
H
H
Rydén
B O
BO
Wallerstedt
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
D003078:Colchicine