Colchicine in acute gout. Reassessment of risks and benefits
W. N. Roberts, M. H. Liang and S. H. Stern
Colchicine is an effective and relatively specific treatment for acute gout
and has a long, venerable history. Serious toxic reactions to colchicine
could be prevented if guidelines for its use were followed strictly, but
because of its relatively infrequent use and conflicting recommendations,
considerable toxic effects might occur and still be undetected by passive
surveillance. A review of a teaching hospital's four years' experience
showed two deaths (2% incidence) due to inappropriate use. Colchicine has
the smallest benefit-to-toxicity ratio of drugs that are effective for
acute gout. This article gives specific recommendations for the use of
colchicine in different clinical settings.
