Colchicine in chronic hepatitis B: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Because of its antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects, colchicine has been proposed as a treatment for liver disease. Early in vitro studies have demonstrated that colchicine blocks mitosis in the metaphase and inhibits DNA synthesis.


OBJECTIVE
A pilot study of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related/HBV-DNA+ve chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Nine biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis patients (three with cirrhosis) entered the study. Two of them were HBeAg+ve and seven were antiHBe+. All patients were HBV-DNA+ve/antiHBc IgM+ve (index values of anti-HBc IgM ranged from 0.370 to 1.200). All of them had a major contraindication to interferon therapy or refused antiviral treatment. The known persistence of positive HBsAg ranged from 2 to 21 years.


METHODS
After informed consent, the patients received 1 mg colchicine a day orally for 5 days-a-week over 6 months. Testing for liver enzymes and viral markers was performed at the baseline and after 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
None of the patients experienced side-effects during the treatment. The two HBeAg+ve patients seroconverted to anti-HBe with a normalization of AST/ALT during therapy. Among the seven antiHBe+ve patients, four had a complete normalization of transaminases (one patient cleared the HBsAg with seroconversion to anti-HBs). Six of the nine patients were HBV-DNA-ve at the end of therapy and were still negative after 12 months of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that colchicine might have an antiviral activity in HBV-DNA+ve chronic liver disease, and it could be regarded as an alternative therapy to interferon.
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Italy.
A
A
Floreani
S
S
Lobello
M
M
Brunetto
V
V
Aneloni
M
M
Chiaramonte
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine