Use of colchicine in atherosclerotic heart disease

Pathophysiology of atherosclerosis: Association of risk factors and treatment strategies using plant‐based bioactive compounds

“…It can pass the hepatocellular barrier and is largely excreted by the liver and through bile ducts (Gasparyan et al, 2015). High amounts of colchicine are concentrated in the macrophages and neutrophils, hence, prolonging its action (P. L. (Cronstein et al, 1995;Lin, Pillinger, Shah, & Tenner, 2018). Colchicine can also bind to the tubulin which promote multiple cellular actions that also includes inhibition of joining of NLRP3 inflammasomes, hence, this impairs the release of IL-1β.…”

“…Second, at the recommended doses, colchicine offers minimal or no impact on platelets, hence, making it a preferable partner to cardiovascular regimens that may include multiple of drugs which increase the risk of bleeding. Moreover, colchicine is less expensive than newer agents and biologics and is readily available throughout the world (Fiolet, Nidorf, Mosterd, & Cornel, 2019;Lin et al, 2018;Spartalis et al, 2018). In patients with CHD, low dose of colchicine in conjunction with statins has shown efficacy in reducing coronary atherosclerotic plaque (Thompson & Nidorf, 2018).…”

“…There are multiple mechanisms of colchicine that contribute for reducing inflammatory responses, as it can inhibit leukocyte function such as release of cytokine and superoxide, cell adhesion, and migration. Further colchicine can reduce leukocyte function by modulating adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelial cells, and by secreting chemoattractants and inducing leukocyte deformability (Cronstein et al, 1995;Lin, Pillinger, Shah, & Tenner, 2018). Colchicine can also bind to the tubulin which promote multiple cellular actions that also includes inhibition of joining of NLRP3 inflammasomes, hence, this impairs the release of IL-1β.…”