EFFICACY OF COLCHICINE IN IMPROVING CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE COVID-19 PNEUMONIA IN LAHORE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug used conventionally to treat gout and pericarditis. This study shows effectiveness of colchicine in enhancing clinical outcomes in mildly to moderately severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

Improvement will be observed in terms of shorter hospital admissions and oxygen dependency .

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection through a PCR test using a nasopharyngeal swab specimen, or the presence of at least two of the following four inflammatory criteria: C-reactive protein (CRP) level > 4 mg/dL, D-dimer level > 1 mg/L, ferritin level > 1000 ng/mL, along with fever ≥ 38 °C and respiratory distress Patients having supplemental oxygen requirement. Patients who provide informed consent to participate in the study. Patients having normal levels of serum Ca2+ and K+; QT interval <450 ms at 12 derivations ECG (Colchicine has been associated with potential cardiac side effects, including disturbances in electrolyte levels and QT interval prolongation. Normal levels of these electrolytes help minimise the risk of cardiac arrhythmias or other adverse events.

Exclusion criteria

Known hypersensitivity or allergy to colchicine or any of its excipients. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 45 mL/min/1.73 m^2 or advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh Class B or C). Patients taking medications known to have significant interactions with colchicine, such as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, ketoconazole), P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine), or medications associated with myelosuppression (e.g., azathioprine, cyclophosphamide). Patients with pre-existing medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, could pose a significant risk or interfere with the interpretation of the study results (e.g., severe heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmias, uncontrolled diabetes, or active malignancies).

Pregnant or lactating individuals. Patients deemed by the investigator to be in imminent danger of death or unlikely to survive the duration of study due to some other disease