Symptom Modifying Effect of Colchicine in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate symptom modifying effects of colchicine in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis over a 6-month period. Material and Method: Total 74 cases with primary knee osteoarthritis (between 40-75 years old, 52 female, 22 male) included the study. Patients assigned randomly into two groups to receive acetaminophen 3000 mg/day or acetaminophen 3000 mg/day plus colchicine 1.5 gr/day for six months. 5 female and 4 male patients withdrew the study because of lost to follow up after six month treatment. No patient discontinued the study because of drug adverse effects. Result: When compared with paired t test, before therapy (bt) WOMAC scores and VAS scores versus visit 1 (v1-1,5. month after initiation of therapy), visit 2 (v23. month after initiation of therapy), visit 3 (v3-4,5. month after initiation of therapy), and visit 4 (v4-6. month after initiation of therapy) WOMAC scores and VAS scores, there was a statistically significant decrease of scores (p< 0.001). This mean both acetaminophen and acetaminophen plus colchicine is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. When two groups compared each other with impaired student t test, WOMAC pain, morning stiffness and functional scores and VAS scores showed significant decrease in the colchicine group versus acetaminophen group (p< 0.05). This decrease was more apparent in v2 and v3 WOMAC and VAS scores (p< 0.001). Both colchicine and acetaminophen was well tolerated. No serious laboratory abnormality was noted in either group. No patient withdrew because of any drug related adverse events. Discussion: Both acetaminophen 3000 mg/day and 3000 mg acetaminophen plus 1,5 gr/day colchicine is effective in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. But the addition of colchicine to acetaminophen produced significantly greater symptomatic benefit at v1, v2, v3, v4 than acetaminophen alone. This may show probable disease modifying effect of colchicine in osteoarthritis which require further long period laboratory and radiologic investigations.