Colchicine Reduces Inflammation but Does Not Improve Arterial Stiffness in Hypertension: Study
A placebo-controlled trial published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that six months of colchicine therapy reduced inflammation but did not improve arterial stiffness in adults with pharmacologically treated hypertension and no established cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest that its anti-inflammatory effects may not translate into improved arterial function in this patient population. The study was conducted by Adam F. and colleagues.
To identify the effect of anti-inflammatory therapy on vascular structure and function, the COHERENT trial used randomization of patients that had pharmacologically treated hypertension and did not have a previous history of cardiovascular disease. Out of 183 screened candidates, 150 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio and allocated either oral colchicine 0.5 mg daily (n = 75) or matching placebo (n = 75) for a total duration of 6 months. Non-invasive measurement of arterial stiffness, full transthoracic echocardiogram, and systemic biomarkers measurements were done in baseline and 6-month assessments.
The main outcome of the trial was a change in the carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), which is considered the gold standard measurement of arterial stiffness. Other outcomes of this trial were changes in the office BP, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers.
Key findings:
- Trial results from the 150 randomized hypertensive patients (mean age 64.5 ± 8.0 years; 53 females [35.3%]; mean baseline office systolic blood pressure 137.6 ± 15.6 mmHg) demonstrated differential biological effects at various endpoints.
- At six months, cfPWV did not show any difference between the two treatment arms (between-group difference in ΔcfPWV −0.1 m/s, 95% CI: −0.5 to 0.3 m/s, p = 0.53).
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was significantly reduced in the colchicine arm compared to the placebo arm, demonstrating a between-group difference in percent change of −39.8% (95% CI: −59.1% to −11.4%, p = 0.010).
- Office systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced in the placebo arm compared to the colchicine arm (between-group difference in Δoffice systolic BP 5.7 mmHg, 95% CI: 1.0 to 10.5 mmHg, p = 0.018).
- There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in changes in left ventricular mass index and cardiac biomarkers.
Six-month randomized clinical trial data show that low-dose colchicine substantially decreases high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in hypertensive patients. The conclusions reached by this study demonstrate that colchicine does not affect arterial stiffness, office blood pressure, or left ventricular mass index.
Reference:
Adam Femerling Langhoff, Niklas Dyrby Johansen, Katja Vu Bartholdy, Julie Inge-Marie Helene Borchsenius, Filip Søskov Davidovski, Lise Witten Davodian, Maria Dons, Lisa Steen Duus, Caroline Espersen, Frederik Holme Fussing, Anne Marie Reimer Jensen, Mats Christian Højbjerg Lassen, Camilla Ikast Ottosen, Morten Sengeløv, Kristoffer Grundtvig Skaarup, Anne Bjerg Nielsen, Güldas Köse, Nino Emanuel Landler, Marat Yafasov, Jakob Øystein Simonsen, Daniel Modin, Marie Frimodt-Møller, Tina Ken Schramm, Ahmad Sajadieh, Tor Biering-Sørensen, Thomas Jepps, Effect of Colchicine on Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Hypertension: The COlchicine HypERtENsion Trial (COHERENT), European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2026;, zwag527, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag527
