COLCHICINE

What is colchicine (Colcrys)?

Colchicine is a medication prescribed for the prevention and treatment of gout. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joint space. These crystals are hard and very sharp, causing tremendous pain. Colchicine works by reducing the inflammation resulting from the buildup of these crystals [1].

Does colchicine play a role in long-COVID?

As colchicine decreases inflammation, researchers have turned to it in hopes it may reduce symptoms associated with long-COVID. Researchers theorize that those affected by long-COVID live in a state of inflammation. COVID-19 sets off a cytokine storm, an immune system overresponse. Although they are not actively infected, patients are still shedding the virus, resulting in symptoms of “brain fog,” exercise intolerance, and shortness of breath.

Currently, results only from studies looking at adding colchicine to hospitalized patients exist. These studies aim to see if adding colchicine can improve patient outcomes. One study looked at 72 patients, 36 using a placebo and 36 using colchicine, and found after ten days of treatment, the use of supplemental oxygen and hospitalized were reduced [2]. Another study found that patients treated at the outpatient level, diagnosed as COVID-19 positive by a PCR test, colchicine did help prevent hospitalizations and death after 30 days of treatment [3].

Colchicine does show some benefit in decreasing symptoms in those actively infected with COVID-19, so it may also have an indication in the long-COVID population. A study in India is currently looking at the relationship between colchicine and long-COVID patients to determine whether colchicine is better at improving functional outcomes and respiratory/mental health outcomes than placebo. However, this study is ongoing, and results are not yet available [4].

References:

¹https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/colchicine/about-colchicine/

²https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/7/1/e001455

³https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2213-2600%2821%2900222-8

⁴https://www.georgeinstitute.org/projects/Colchicine-for-Long-COVID