A randomized trial of colchicine for acute pericarditis

Abstract

To the Editor: With regard to the use of colchicine to prevent recurrent pericarditis, Imazio et al. (Oct. 17 issue)(1) might have achieved an even more favorable outcome in their study if they had used a dose of colchicine higher than 0.5 mg per deciliter for patients weighing less than 70 kg. I routinely treat patients with familial Mediterranean fever with 1.2 mg per deciliter regardless of their weight. Of approximately 40 such patients followed for many years while taking colchicine daily, none have reported side effects other than mild and easily managed diarrhea, which occurred in a few.