title: The anti-inflammatory drug colchicine lacks efficacy in hidradenitis suppurativa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. Since current treatments are unsatisfactory for many patients, there is a high need for effective drugs for this debilitating disease. Recent pathogenic insights suggest inflammasome activation and IL-1β production are important in HS. Colchicine is efficacious in the IL-1β- and inflammasome-mediated diseases gout, familial Mediterranean fever and Behçet's disease, and therefore a potentially effective drug in HS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of colchicine in HS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an open prospective pilot study, 8 HS patients were treated with the accepted gout maintenance regimen of 0.5 mg colchicine b.i.d. orally up to 4 months. Efficacy was assessed by a physician global assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colchicine treatment did not result in a clinically relevant improvement of disease severity. Three patients experienced nausea and diarrhea as known side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colchicine in the used dose regimen does not ameliorate HS severity.
authors: Departmentof Dermatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.vanderzee@erasmusmc.nl
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: van der Zee
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Prens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine