The Anti-Inflammatory Drug Colchicine Lacks Efficacy in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. Since current treatments are unsatisfactory for many patients, there is a high need for effective drugs for this debilitating disease. Recent pathogenic insights suggest inflammasome activation and IL-1 beta production are important in HS. Colchicine is efficacious in the IL-1 beta- and inflammasome-mediated diseases gout, familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease, and therefore a potentially effective drug in HS. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of colchicine in HS. Methods: In an open prospective pilot study, 8 HS patients were treated with the accepted gout maintenance regimen of 0.5 mg colchicine b.i.d. orally up to 4 months. Efficacy was assessed by a physician global assessment. Results: Colchicine treatment did not result in a clinically relevant improvement of disease severity. Three patients experienced nausea and diarrhea as known side effects. Conclusion: Colchicine in the used dose regimen does not ameliorate HS severity. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel