Why carry out this study?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality per capita worldwide, followed by hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.

Accentuated platelet reactivity with respect to both aspirin and clopidogrel resistance or non-responsiveness may be implicated in increased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Low-dose colchicine (COLC), an anti-inflammatory drug, reduces MACE by 25% to 30% in patients with CVD. The mechanism for this needs to be better elucidated. In vitro, COLC inhibits many conventional platelet functions, such as aggregation, albeit at supraphysiological concentrations.

What was learned from the study?

There were no significant differences in aspirin reaction units or P2Y12 reaction units post-COLC trial.

This dedicated pharmacodynamic study could potentially be informative and applicable in patients with stable CAD on dual antiplatelet therapy.