Colchicine prophylaxis for frequent periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis episodes.
OBJECTIVE
To review our experience with colchicine for the prophylaxis of PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis).


METHODS
Prophylaxis with colchicine was offered to patients with frequent PFAPA episodes defined as episodes occurring every < or =14 days. Nine patients, aged 3.5-11.0 years, were treated with colchicine at a daily dosage of 0.5-1.0 mg and were followed up for 6-48 months (mean 2 years).


RESULTS
Colchicine treatment increased the interval between the episodes in eight out of the nine patients. The interval between the episodes was significantly increased following colchicine treatment from an average of 1.7 weeks to 8.4 weeks (p < 0.006). Only one patient had an abdominal pain that responded to dose adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Colchicine prophylaxis may be beneficial for frequent PFAPA episodes.
Tasher
Diana
D
The Pediatric Infectious and Immunology Unit, E Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, and The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Stein
Michal
M
Dalal
Ilan
I
Somekh
Eli
E
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013577:Syndrome; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine