Effect of low dose cholchicine on LV function based on trans thorasic echocardiography and LV 2D strain echocardiography

Abstract

Myocardial infarction is permanent and irreversible cell death in a part of myocardium. An echocardiogram can be useful in identifying areas of the heart that have been affected by a heart attack. In these patients, myocardial function can be checked by strain echocardiography. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug that is used in a wide range of inflammatory diseases. Cardiovascular diseases also have an inflammatory component, but the effects of colchicine on cardiovascular outcomes remain unclear. This study was designed and implemented with the aim of evaluating the effect of low dose of colchicine on left ventricular function in patients who suffered myocardial infarction. Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 96 patients with acute myocardial infarction in Tabriz Shahid Madani Hospital. Patients were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, patients received 0.5 mg of colchicine daily in addition to common treatments, and in the control group, patients received a placebo similar to the colchicine in the intervention group in addition to common treatments. The intended outcome was the examination of heart function and was measured using transthoracic echocardiography and two-dimensional left ventricular strain. Patients were examined twice during the study, once at the beginning of hospitalization (first 36 hours) and once 4-6 weeks after the intervention to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the desired outcomes. Patients in the intervention group received 0.5 mg of colchicine daily and the control group received a placebo. Finally, echocardiography results, including strain, were compared in 2 groups. Results: The average amount of initial GLS (first 36 hours) was -8.7% in the intervention group and -8.4% in the control group. The average GLS in echocardiography 4-6 weeks later was -10.8% in the intervention group and -9.7% in the control group, which was statistically significant (p-value=0.002).