COLCHICINE DISPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER WITH PENAL IMPAIRMENT

Objective. To assess the pharmacokinetics of serum colchicine in patie nts with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) with renal impairment. Met hods. Using a specific radioimmunoassay we determined serum colchicine concentration at various time points following oral administration of a single dose of the drug. Results. Patients with renal insufficiency had a mean +/- SD apparent total colchicine clearance of 0.168 +/- 0. 063 l/h/kg, apparent volume of distribution of 4.56 +/- 1.64 l/kg and elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of 18.8 +/- 1.2 h. Patients with FMF wi th normal kidney function had a mean clearance of 0.726 +/- 0.110 l/h/ kg, volume of distribution of 4.87 +/- 2.05 l/kg and terminal t(1/2) o f 4.4 +/- 1.0 h. Conclusion. The kidneys have an important role in the clearance of colchicine. Caution should be exercised in the use of co lchicine in patients with renal insufficiency.