Update on colchicine and its mechanism of action.

Colchicine is a unique anti-inflammatory drug with respect to its limited clinical usefulness and its mode of action. Colchicine is mainly indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Its mode of action includes modulation of chemokine and prostanoid production and inhibition of neutrophil and endothelial cell adhesion molecules by which it interferes with the initiation and amplification of the joint inflammation. This paper discusses its adverse effects and indications.