title: Colchicine inhibits heterotopic ossification: experimental study in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heterotopic ossification is a common complication of hip surgery and musculoskeletal or brain trauma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To confirm by in vivo study that colchicine inhibits osteoblast cell proliferation with marked decrease in tissue mineralization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heterotopic ossification was induced in three groups of New Zealand white rabbits (females, 6 months old, weight 3-3.5 kg) by injecting 2 ml bone marrow drawn from the iliac crest into their right thigh muscle. To prevent heterotopic ossification, colchicine (0.25 mg/ day) was administered orally for 4 weeks to two groups of adult rabbits: group A (preload group)--1 week preceding bone marrow injection; group B--on day of injection; and group C--control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 weeks the rabbits were evaluated by radiographs and ultrasound for evidence of heterotopic ossification. At the end of the study histologic samples were taken from all the thighs. Imaging and histologic studies showed, with statistical significance, almost complete prevention of heterotopic ossification formation in group A (preload) and a marked decrease in group B, when compared with the controls where large new bone had formed at the injection site. These results indicated the inhibitory effects of colchicine on a bone-forming process in soft tissue such as heterotopic ossification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of colchicine in preventing heterotopic ossification in other bone-forming conditions, such as hip arthroplasty or pelvic trauma, and after brain trauma, remains to be evaluated in a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. dudke@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dudkiewicz
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Suzanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regev
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perelman
authors.forename: Aharon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chechik
authors.forename: Pnina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langevitz
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strasburg
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Livneh
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine