Prevention of recurrences of corticosteroid-dependent idiopathic pericarditis by colchicine in an adolescent patient

A case of an adolescent patient with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis is r eported. On several occasions during a period of 3.5 years he was shown to be dependent on corticosteroid therapy, and he became cushingoid, After cor ticosteroids were substituted with colchicine, no further relapses occurred during a period of 29 months. In accordance with the first published pedia tric results, colchicine represents an effective and well-tolerated alterna tive therapy for recurrent idiopathic pericarditis and might replace prolon ged administration of corticosteroids.