A CLINICAL-STUDY OF COLCHICINE IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

A double-blind, randomized, crossover study was done to determine the efficacy of colchicine in 30 atopic children with moderately severe as thma. A constant dose of sustained-release theophylline and salbutamol by inhalation, as needed, was administered to all patients. Compared to placebo, colchicine, 0.5 mg twice daily, significantly reduced morn ing tightness and nocturnal asthma score. There was, however, no signi ficant difference between colchicine and placebo for cough, daytime as thma, or daily combined symptom scores for each patient. Colchicine di d not significantly decrease beta-2 agonist inhaler use when compared with placebo. Similarly, there was no statistically significant differ ence between placebo and colchicine therapy as far as pulmonary functi on tests and peak flow reversibility were concerned. Thus, colchicine administered for 4 weeks demonstrated insufficient antiasthma activity . Colchicine-induced clinical improvement that was reported in a previ ous study may be due to selection of patients with mild asthma symptom s. However, our group, comprised of moderately severe asthmatic patien ts, did not show a satisfactory clinical response.