title: Prevention of recurrent aphthous stomatitis with colchicine: an open trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common disorder with hitherto unsatisfactory drug therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of colchicine in the treatment of RAS.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open, prospective, 4-month study was conducted in 20 patients with RAS who served as their own controls. During the first 2 months of the study no medications were given and in the last 2 months colchicine, 1.5 mg/day, was prescribed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of aphthae per week and the subjective daily pain scores were reduced by 71% and 77%, respectively, during colchicine treatment as compared with the previous period (p < 0.001 for both). No serious side effects of colchicine were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a role for continuous colchicine therapy in the prevention of RAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langevitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shemer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Livneh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine