Based on data regarding the effect of colchicine on the inflammasome NLP3 and microtubule formation and associations thereof with the pathogenetic cycle of SARS-COV-2, the question arises whether colchicine, administered in a relatively low dose, could potentially have an effect the patients' clinical course by limiting the myocardial necrosis and pneumonia development in the context of COVID-19. If present, this effect would be attributed to its potential to inhibit inflammasome and (less probably) to the process of SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis in myocardial and endothelial respiratory cells.
Drug: Colchicine
Low-dose colchicine treatment, 0.5 mg bid
Drug: Standard treatment
Standard treatment
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients >18 years old with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (RT PCR) AND body
temperature >37.5 degrees centigrade AND at least two of: i. sustained coughing, ii.
sustained throat pain, iii. anosmia and/or ageusia, iv. fatigue/tiredness, v. PaO2<95 mmHg.
Exclusion Criteria:
- pregnancy, lactation;
- known hypersensitivity to colchicine
- known hepatic failure
- eGFR<20 ml/min
- clinical estimation that the patient will require mechanical respiratory support in
less than 24 hours
- any clinical estimation of the attending physician under which the patient shall be
excluded
- QTc > 450 msec (colchicine is not known to significantly prolong QTc, but may interact
with other medications which prolong QTc).
- participation in another clinical trial
- under colchicine treatment for other indications
- patient who is not likely to comply to study procedures
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Athens, Greece