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Inflammation May be the Future of Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Does Colchicine have a Current Indication?

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Abstract

Inflammation as a cardiovascular risk factor has attracted increasing attention . The current standard of care for decreasing the occurrence of cardiovascular events includes controlling risk factors such as hypertension and maximizing the lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, a recent study demonstrated decreased cardiovascular risk with the anti-inflammatory agent canakinumab and created more interest in decreasing cardiovascular risk by decreasing inflammation. Canakinumab is not yet approved and will undoubtedly be very expensive, so interest in an established medication such as colchicine, which is inexpensive to produce, is appropriate if evidence-based benefit is adequately confirmed. Colchicine has existing indications for gout and familial Mediterranean fever and for decreasing the incidence of postpericardiotomy syndrome. If an evidence-based benefit in decreasing cardiovascular risk can be demonstrated for colchicine, it will be of significant importance. Meta-analyses and observational studies have provided evidence to suggest that colchicine decreases cardiovascular risk because of its anti-inflammatory effects. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed, and the recently published COLCOT (Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial) showed definite benefit on cardiovascular outcomes in adults who had experienced a myocardial infarction within the previous 30 days. Sufficient evidence now supports the use of colchicine for secondary prevention in patients at the highest cardiovascular risk who continue to have cardiovascular events despite good blood pressure control and maximum LDL-C reduction. Nevertheless, more RCTs will be necessary before widespread general use of colchicine in cardiovascular disease prevention can be recommended. The current acquisition cost issues with colchicine also need to be resolved.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Colleen McMullen, MA, MBA, for her excellent editorial critique.

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  1. Gill Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Kentucky, 326 Wethington Building, 900 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536-0200, USA

    Thomas F. Whayne Jr.

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Whayne, T.F. Inflammation May be the Future of Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Does Colchicine have a Current Indication?. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 21, 1–10 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40256-020-00408-y

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