Colchicine reduces arterial stiffness in high-risk T2D patients: RCT

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effect of low-dose colchicine on arterial stiffness, ambulatory blood pressure, and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk. The study enrolled 100 participants, randomized 1:1 to receive colchicine 0.5 mg once daily or placebo for 26 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in arterial stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Secondary outcomes included 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Treatment with colchicine significantly mitigated the progression of arterial stiffness compared to placebo when adjusted for mean arterial pressure (MAP), with a MAP-adjusted change in cfPWV of -0.7 m/s (95% CI: -1.3; -0.1, P = 0.03). A crude analysis without MAP adjustment showed a non-significant reduction in cfPWV of -0.3 m/s (95% CI: -1.0; 0.4, P = 0.45). For secondary outcomes, colchicine had no significant effect on 24-hour systolic ambulatory blood pressure, with a change of 3.0 mmHg (95% CI: -0.5; 6.5 mmHg, P = 0.10). It also had no significant effect on UACR, with a percentage change of 0.5 (95% CI: -29.5; 40.4, P = 0.98). The authors conclude that low-dose colchicine may reduce arterial stiffness in this population, suggesting this mechanism could contribute to the cardiovascular event reduction seen in other trials, but note that further research is needed to confirm these effects and understand the underlying mechanisms. The abstract does not report specific safety data or detailed study limitations.

If you have type 2 diabetes and are at high risk for heart disease, your arteries can become stiff and rigid over time, which puts extra strain on your heart. This study tested whether a low-dose, daily anti-inflammatory drug called colchicine could help. In a 26-week trial with 100 participants, those who took colchicine saw a significant improvement in a key measure of artery stiffness compared to those who took a placebo. This suggests the drug may help keep arteries more flexible. However, the treatment did not have a significant effect on 24-hour blood pressure readings or on a marker of kidney stress (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio). The findings point to a possible new way to protect the heart in high-risk diabetes patients by targeting inflammation and artery health directly, which could complement existing treatments. The researchers note that more studies are needed to confirm these effects and understand exactly how it works.