Anti-prostaglandin action of colchicine

Colchicine, given locally, inhibits urate-crystal- and CaPPD-crystal-induced inflammation. Since this inflammation is known to be mediated in part by PGE1 these observations indicate colchicine acts as an anti-PG agent. Colchicine counteracts the phlogistic action of exogenous PGE1 in both urate- and CaPPD-crystal-induced inflammation. With use of large excesses of colchicine, its anti-inflammatory action appears limited to its anti-PGE1 activity. In turn, PGE1 counteracts the antiphlogistic action of colchicine. Colchicine is less effective in reducing swelling due to CaPPD-crystals than that due to urate-crystals, a finding similar to the clinical observations that colchicine is more effective therapy for gout than for pseudogout. Some relationships are reviewed to suggest that CaPPD-crystal inflammation is a more severe membrane disorder than is urate-crystal inflammation.