Cochrane Corner: Colchicine in acute and recurrent pericarditis

The potential anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine has been explored in many conditions, including pericarditis. The Cochrane Collaboration Systematic Review included four randomized controlled trials enrolling 564 patients with acute pericarditis (two studies) or recurrent pericarditis (two studies), followed for a period of 20-24 months. Colchicine was associated with a significant reduction in short-term persistence of chest pain and in long-term risk of recurrence of pericarditis. No significant increase in overall adverse events was observed. Despite the available evidence, the use of colchicine in this context remains strictly off-label.