Table 1. Literature summary of colchicine in cardiovascular disease.

Trial (year)	N	Patient population	Intervention	Primary endpoint(s)	Primary result(s) (colchicine vs placebo)	Adverse effects (colchicine vs placebo)
PPS and POAF
COPPS (2010)⁸	360	Adults undergoing cardiac surgery without baseline liver, renal, or GI disease	Colchicine 1 mg bid on POD 3, followed by 0.5 mg bid^a x 1 month vs placebo	Incidence of PPS at 12 months	8.9% vs 21.1%; P = .002 (NNT = 9)	8.9% vs 5%; P = .212
COPPS AF Substudy (2011)⁴	336	COPPS patients in sinus rhythm at randomization (POD 3)	Colchicine 1 mg bid on POD 3, followed by 0.5 mg bid^a x 1 month vs placebo	Incidence of POAF at 1 month	12.0% vs 22.0%; P = .021 (NNT = 11)	9.5% vs 4.8%; P = .137
COPPS-2 (2014)¹²	360	Adults undergoing cardiac surgery in sinus rhythm at enrollment	Colchicine 0.5 mg bid^a x 1 month starting 48–72 h before surgery vs placebo	PPS within 3 months	19.4% vs 29.4%; 95% CI, 1.1–18.7 (NNT = 10)	20.0% vs 11.7%; 95% CI, 0.76–15.9 (NNH = 12)
				POAF^b	33.9% vs 41.7%; 95% CI, -2.2 to 17.6 (NS)
				POAF on-treatment analysis^b	27.0% vs 41.2%; 95% CI, 3.3–24.7 (NNT = 7)

Acute pericarditis
COPE (2005)¹⁴	120	Adults with first episode of acute pericarditis and no C/I to colchicine therapy	Conventional therapy^c plus colchicine 2 mg on day 1, then 1 mg daily x 3 months^a vs placebo	Incidence of recurrent pericarditis	11.7% vs 33.3%; P = .009 (NNT = 5)	8.3% vs 6.7%; P = NS
ICAP (2013)¹⁵	240	Adults with first episode of acute pericarditis and no C/I to colchicine therapy	Conventional therapy^d plus colchicine 2 mg on day 1, then 1 mg daily x 3 months^a vs placebo	Incidence of incessant or recurrent pericarditis	16.7% vs 37.5%; P < .001 (NNT = 4)	11.7% vs 10.0%; P = .84

Recurrent pericarditis
CORE (2005)²¹	84	Adults with first episode of recurrent pericarditis	Conventional therapy^c plus colchicine 2 mg on day 1, then 1 mg daily x 6 months^a vs placebo	Incidence of recurrent pericarditis at 18 months	24.0% vs 50.6%; 95% CI, 2.5–7.1; P = .02 (NNT = 4)	7.1% vs 14.3%; P = .48
CORP (2011)²²	120	Adults with first episode of recurrent pericarditis	Conventional therapy^d plus colchicine 2 mg on day 1, then 1 mg daily x 6 months^a vs placebo	Incidence of recurrent pericarditis at 18 months	24.0% vs 55.0%; 95 CI, 0.13–0.46; P < .001 (NNT=4)	6.7% vs 6.7%; P > .99
CORP-2 (2014)²³	240	Adults with ≥2 prior pericarditis recurrences	Conventional therapy^e plus colchicine 0.5 mg bid^a x 6 months vs placebo	Incidence of recurrent pericarditis at 18 months	21.6% vs 42.5%; 95% CI, 0.24–0.65; P = .0009 (NNT = 5)	11.7% vs 8.3%; P = .519

Note: BID = twice daily; C/I = contraindication; COPE = COlchicine for Acute PEricarditis; COPPS = Colchicine for the Prevention of the Postpericardiotomy Syndrome; COPPS-2 = Colchicine for the Prevention of Postpericardiotomy Syndrome and Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation; CORE = COlchicine for REcurrent pericarditis; CORP = COlchicine for Recurrent Pericarditis; CORP-2 = Colchicine for Recurrent Pericarditis 2; GI = gastrointestinal; ICAP = Investigation on Colchicine for Acute Pericarditis; NNH = number needed to harm; NNT = number needed to treat; NS = not significant; POAF = postoperative atrial fibrillation; POD = postoperative day; PPS = postpericardiotomy syndrome.

Doses halved (ie, 0.5 mg daily) in patients weighing <70 kg or intolerant to the highest dose.

Secondary endpoint.

Aspirin 800 mg every 6–8 hours for 7–10 days, followed by 3–4 week taper. Alternative: prednisone 1.0 to 1.5 mg/kg/day x 4 weeks with subsequent taper if contraindication.

Aspirin 800–1000 mg or ibuprofen 600 mg every 8 hours x 7–10 days, followed by 3–4 week taper. Alternative: prednisone 0.2–0.5 mg/kg/day x 4 weeks with subsequent taper if contraindication or intolerance.

Aspirin, ibuprofen, or indomethacin dosed by provider. Alternative: prednisone 0.2–0.5 mg/kg/day x 4 weeks with subsequent taper if contraindication or intolerance.