Treatment with colchicine and survival of patients with ascitic cirrhosis: a double-blind randomized trial.
BACKGROUND
In order to assess the role of colchicine in the survival of cirrhotic patients, 52 patients were studied.


METHODS
The patients were divided into two groups, randomized according to age. There were no significant differences in age, sex, etiologic factors, or biological data. In addition to conventional therapy with diuretics, the first group was treated with colchicine of 1 milligram daily for 5 days a week, and the second group with a placebo.


RESULTS
Under the action of colchicine, the diuretics were discontinued because the ascites disappeared in 37.93% of the colchicine group, vs 4.35% of the placebo group (p < 0.01). At time of discharge from the clinic, ascitic fluid disappeared respectively in 72.41% and 26.09% of cases (p < 0.001), whereas the recurrence in the follow-up period was 47.62% vs 83.33% (p < 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Using Kaplan Meier survival curves, and comparing both groups with Logrank test during a period of 11 years it was found that survival of the colchicine group was 3 times greater than that of the placebo group (p < 0.001).
Adhami
J E
JE
University Medical Center of Tirana, Albania.
Basho
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
D004232:Diuretics; D003078:Colchicine