The cardiovascular effects of colchicine: a comprehensive review.

Colchicine is used extensively in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Recent data have demonstrated additional benefit in a variety of cardiovascular disorders, including acute and recurrent pericarditis, postpericardiotomy syndrome, atrial fibrillation, stable ischemic heart disease, and possibly chronic heart failure. This article serves as a focused and updated discussion on the cardiovascular effects of colchicine and emphasizes the importance of randomized, placebo-controlled trials to further our clinical and pharmacological understanding of these findings.