24 Jun Trial of Gout Medication Colchicine for Inflammation of COVID-19

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Deftereos

Spyridon G. Deftereos MD PhD
Prof. of Cardiology, Medical School
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Greece

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Research on COVID-19 early revealed that inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Therefore, we designed GRECCO-19 study in order to evaluate the effect of colchicine, a relatively safe drug with known anti-inflammatory properties, in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Main finding of our study was that patients who received colchicine (on top of standard medical treatment which at that time in Greece in most of the patients was a combination of chloroquine and azithromycin) vs. standard medical treatment showed an improved time to clinical deterioration. Particularly utilizing a 7-grade clinical status scale, we set our primary endpoint as time for 2-grade deterioration which was met by 1.8% (1 of 55 patients) in the colchicine group and 14% in the control group (7 of 50 patients). Maximum levels of CRP and hs-troponin were comparable between the groups. Maximum D-Dimer levels were attenuated in the colchicine group indicating a potential antithrombogenic effect of the drug. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Colchicine may exert anti-inflammatory properties that may “buy” the patient time and ameliorate the chances to avoid the need for intubation. This was not directly studied by our trial but a 2-scale deterioration in the utilized clinical scale was practically met by the need for intubation (only 1 patient met the endpoint due to need for non-invasive ventilation, 6 were intubated, 1 suffered sudden cardiorespiratory arrest and died).

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Since our study involved only 105 patients, we wait with great interest the results of other studies that are now being conducted with colchicine in COVID-19 patients in hospitalized patients and in the outpatient setting. Undoubtedly, greater cohorts will be required for even more sound conclusions, but our study findings are certainly encouraging. Another potential field of research could be the combination of colchicine with dexamethasone which was recently reported to have beneficial effects.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: I would like to wholeheartedly thank the patients and their families that agreed to take part in GRECCO-19 trial as well as other ongoing trials that will help us all unlock the secrets of this new and unknown enemy. 

Any disclosures?

The study was funded by ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, Acarpia Pharmaceuticals, and Karian Pharmaceuticals.

Citation:

Deftereos SG, Giannopoulos G, Vrachatis DA, et al. Effect of Colchicine vs Standard Care on Cardiac and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019: The GRECCO-19 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(6):e2013136. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13136 

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Last Updated on June 26, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD