Abstract

Effect of colchicine treatment on primary knee osteoarthritic patients

Author(s): Tamer omar El said, Mai A Elkosaier, Ibrahim A Elboghdady & Mohammed M Elarman

Background and Aim: It was hypothesized that cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA) facilitates monosodium urate crystals nucleation which by its turn contribute to progression of OA. The aim of the current study is to assess the efficacy of oral colchicine treatment in patients having primary Knee OA (KOA).

Patients and Methods: This clinical trial included 40 patients with KOA. After baseline evaluation, patients received oral colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily for 16-weeks period. The outcome measures (knee pain and WOMAC scale) and human urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTX-II) were evaluated at inclusion and at the end of study.

Results: Colchicine had significantly improved frequency of knee effusion (from 62.5% to 40.0%, p=0.044), tenderness score (from 1.9 ± 0.8 to 1.3 ± 0.6, p<0.001), VAS-pain score (from 60.2 ± 11.7 to 48.6 ± 11.5, p<0.001) and the total WOMAC score (from 48.2 ± 6.4 to 42.8 ± 9.2, p=0.003). The uCTX-II was reduced from 447.4 ± 63.4 ng/mmol at baseline evaluation to 428.9 ± 106.7 ng/mmol at the end of treatment but this difference was not significant. Only one patient complained of gastrointestinal side effect in the form of diarrhea.

Conclusion: Colchicine appears to be an effective and safe option treatment in primary KOA. Colchicine reduced pain and stiffness and improves functionality with good safety profile