Colchicine cheap and low-risk medication to reduce MACE in patients undergoing PCI: BMJ

UK: A recent study showed that colchicine significantly reduces MACE risk in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Colchicine reduced the risk of repeat vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, and stroke. The study appears in the BMJ journal Open Heart. 

PCI is the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy that induces endothelial trauma which may scale an inflammatory response. This may increase the likelihood of further major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Colchicine is a cheap and widely used anti-inflammatory that has shown promise in improving cardiovascular outcomes. Considering this, Kah Long Aw, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK, and colleagues aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the effects of colchicine in patients with symptomatic CAD who have undergone PCI. 

For this purpose, the researchers systematically reviewed and meta-analysed 7 randomised controlled trials including a total of 6660 patients (3347 in colchicine group and 3313 in the control group; mean age=60.9±10). Six studies included participants who had a ≤13.5-day history of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). One study was that which included patients having both ACS and chronic coronary syndrome. The studies were followed training from 3 days to 22.6 months. 

"Colchicine is a cheap and relatively low risk medication that may benefit (27% risk reduction, number needed to treat=41) patients undergoing PCI in reducing major cardiovascular events and disease morbidity," wrote the authors. "However, there is a need for conducting more studies to investigate the effects of colchicine in a periprocedural versus secondary prevention setting."

Reference:

Aw KL, Koh A, Lee HL, et alColchicine for symptomatic coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary interventionOpen Heart 2022;9:e001887. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001887