Colchicine Mechanism of Action Gout | Detailed Explanation

Colchicine is a therapeutic drug used during acute attacks of gout. Colchicine mechanism of action gout is to improve the pH value in the joint cavity and neutralize acidic substances. Therefore, it can reduce the precipitation of urate crystals. Colchicine cannot reduce uric acid in the body, nor help the excretion of uric acid. It mainly alleviates patients' discomfort by synthesizing acidic substances. If patients experience acute attacks of gout, colchicine is a first-choice medication.

Symptoms of Gout

The symptoms of gout can be divided into four stages.

The first stage has no obvious symptoms, only high uric acid levels during blood testing.

The symptoms of the second stage are acute arthritis. Some middle-aged men or postmenopausal women experience redness, swelling, and pain in their joints after consuming large amounts of alcohol and high-purine foods.

The third stage is the chronic gouty tophus lesion stage. Sodium urate crystals will deposit in soft tissues and cause chronic inflammation and nodular swelling formed by fibrous tissue proliferation in this stage.

The fourth stage of gout is mainly characterized by gouty nephropathy. For acute kidney injury caused by gout, it is relatively mild. Most patients' kidney damage can be cured through timely uric acid-lowering treatment. Chronic kidney damage caused by gout is very difficult to cure.

Therefore, once gout is found, early screening of kidney function should be carried out besides receiving normal treatment.

Colchicine Mechanism of Action Gout

Colchicine is mainly used to treat acute attacks of gout and prevent gout recurrence. Colchicine mechanism of action gout is to control the production of local cells’ interleukin. Besides, it can also reduce the phagocytic activity of neutrophils.

Therefore, joint inflammation can be controlled effectively. At the beginning of uric acid lowering treatment, taking colchicine appropriately can prevent gout from recurring.

Because colchicine may cause toxic reactions, it must be used according to the doctor’s advice. What’s more, gout patients should pay attention to a low-purine diet. Eat less seafood, mushrooms, and other foods. Drink more water to help uric acid excretion.

Effects of Colchicine

After learning the colchicine mechanism of action gout, let’s find out the detailed effects of colchicine.

1.Treat acute gout

It is a classic medication for treating acute gouty arthritis. It can quickly reduce the severe pain and inflammatory response during gout attacks.

2.Preventing gout attacks

In the non-acute phase, low-dose colchicine can be used to prevent recurrent gout attacks and reduce joint inflammation and pain.

3.Anti-inflammatory

It can reduce the activity and migration of inflammatory cells and reduce the release of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it can reduce tissue swelling and pain.

4.Prevent pericardial disease

Pericarditis and pericardial effusion account for a large proportion of pericardial diseases. The main pathophysiological mechanism is the inflammatory process caused by multiple factors. It can reduce the recurrence rate of acute and recurrent pericarditis and also reduce the duration of symptoms in patients with pericarditis.

5.Treat familial Mediterranean fever

It can also be used to treat familial Mediterranean fever which is a hereditary inflammatory disease. Colchicine can help reduce the recurrence of fever and peritonitis in familial Mediterranean fever.

6. Anti-tumor effect

It has certain anti-tumor effects and can be used to treat primary gouty arthritis, central nervous system tumors, leukemia, etc.

7. Anti-platelet aggregation

It not only reduces the activation and migration of neutrophils but also has anti-platelet aggregation effects. It can control changes in platelet shape, secretion of particulate matter, exposure of surface molecules, and help the release of extracellular vesicles. Therefore, patients with low platelets usually cannot take colchicine.

Side Effects of Colchicine

Despite of colchicine mechanism of action gout, there are some side effects you should be aware of.

1.Gastrointestinal discomfort: Improper use may cause irritation to the digestive mucosa. There may be symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

2.Blood system reactions: It may have an impact on the blood system with symptoms including thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, etc.

3. Neurological reactions: It may cause neurological reactions such as muscle weakness and numbness in patients.

Conclusion

This article mainly talks about gout and colchicine. Gout usually manifests as joint swelling and pain. Because of the colchicine mechanism of action gout, it is the current specific drug to treat gout. Besides several effects of colchicine, there are also some side effects. Therefore, colchicine should be used according to medical advice, with strict dosage control to avoid side effects and adverse reactions.