Colchicine.

The pharmacological mechanism, and adverse effect of colchicine are described. In addition diseases which are treated with colchicine are also reported. Colchicine inhibits chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by blocking the assembly of microtubules. Colchicine is effective in Behcet's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, amyloidosis, and gout. One mg of colchicine is enough as an initial dose at acute attack of gout. Colchicine should be continued for additional couple of days. There had been no effective medicines for the ocular symptoms of Behcet's disease. However, almost two-thirds of the patients with this disease responded well to colchicine. And today many doctors prescribe colchicine for the treatment of Behcet's disease. Colchicine might be used for other intractable diseases.