RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Therapeutic value of colchicine in the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis.
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 826
OP 828
DO 10.1136/ard.52.11.826
VO 52
IS 11
A1 McKendry, R J
A1 Kraag, G
A1 Seigel, S
A1 al-Awadhi, A
YR 1993
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/52/11/826.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE--To test the hypothesis that colchicine is an effective treatment of psoriatic arthritis. METHODS--Twenty five patients with psoriatic arthritis were entered into a two centre, double blind, crossover study of 23 weeks' duration comparing the therapeutic effect of colchicine (0.6-1.8 mg/day) with placebo. RESULTS--No significant difference was noted between colchicine or placebo treatment for the primary outcome measure (Lansbury joint count) or any of the seven secondary outcome measures. No change in the psoriasis was noted during active or placebo treatment. Adverse clinical effects were reported more often during treatment with colchicine (14 patients) than with the placebo (four patients), resulting in the early withdrawal of three patients receiving colchicine from the trial. Increased creatine kinase values, without weakness, occurred during treatment with colchicine (five patients) and placebo (four patients). CONCLUSIONS--In conclusion, our study did not provide evidence that colchicine is of therapeutic value in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.