OBJECTIVE Colchicine is a widely used treatment for Behçet's syndrome, even though in a previous 6-month controlled study, it was shown to be effective only in controlling erythema nodosum and arthralgias. We reassessed the effect of colchicine in Behçet's syndrome in a study conducted among a larger group of patients for 2 years. METHODS We randomized 116 patients with Behçet's syndrome (60 ...

We recently showed that colchicine treatment of rat ventricular myocytes increases the L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca)) and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) transients and interferes with adrenergic signaling. These actions were ascribed to adenylyl cyclase (AC) stimulation after G(s) activation by alpha,beta-tubulin. Colchicine depolymerizes microtubules into alpha,beta-tubulin dimers. ...

Colchicine treatment is associated with an autophagic vacuolar myopathy in human patients. The presumed mechanism of colchicine-induced myotoxicity is the destabilization of the microtubule system that leads to impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion and the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles. Using the MTOR inhibitor rapamycin we augmented colchicine’s myotoxic effect by increasing the autopha...

In previous studies we have shown that 125I-labeled prolactin is taken up by a receptor-dependent process and concentrated in an intact form in Golgi elements from female rat liver (J. Biol. Chem., 1979, 254:209-214). In this study we have examined the effect of colchicine on this uptake process into Golgi elements. Colchicine [25 mumol (10 mg)/100 gm body wt] was injected intraperitoneally in ...

Colchicine, extracted from the colchicum autumnale plant, used by the ancient Greeks more than 20 centuries ago, is one of the most ancient drugs still prescribed even today. The major mechanism of action is binding to microtubules thereby interfering with mitosis and subsequent modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function. Colchicine has long been of interest in the treatment of cardiova...

Hu, Ying-Li, Song Li, John Y.-J. Shyy, and Shu Chien. Sustained JNK activation induces endothelial apoptosis: studies with colchicine and shear stress. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 46): H1593–H1599, 1999.—The disruption of microtubules by treating bovine aortic endothelial cells with 1027–1025 M colchicine caused apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA laddering and TdT-mediated dUTP nick e...

Preclinical and clinical studies indicated involvement of the central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in memory functions. However, the role of central angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in memory function is still unclear. The present study investigated the involvement of central ACE in colchicine-induced memory impairment in the context of cholinergic function and oxidative stress. Memory imp...

a 6.5 yr old girl was admitted with a category of clinical signs and symptoms including recurrent gross hematuria, ab-dominal pain, and fever. after different examinations including genetic analysis, the disease was diagnosed as familial mediterranean fever (fmf). it is suggested to consider fmf as a rare cause of recurrent gross hematuria, which is re-sponsive to colchicine treatment.

BACKGROUND Colchicine is used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of gout, familial Mediterranean fever, and Behçet disease. However, because of its potent inhibition of mitosis, adverse effects and symptoms of intoxication are frequent. Clinical manifestations of colchicine intoxication include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and multiorgan failure including cardiovascular collapse with ...