Using colchicine to treat heart issues in chronic kidney disease patients

Anti-Inflammatory Treatment of Uremic Cardiomyopathy With Colchicine

Phase 2 Interventional Brigham and Women's Hospital · NCT04500665

This study is testing if colchicine can help reduce heart inflammation in people aged 21 to 80 with chronic kidney disease.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages21 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorBrigham and Women's Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT04500665 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of colchicine in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Participants aged 21 to 80 with specific kidney function metrics will receive either colchicine or a placebo. The study aims to assess how well colchicine can reduce inflammation related to uremic cardiomyopathy, a condition affecting the heart in patients with kidney disease. The trial will follow participants closely to monitor outcomes and side effects.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 to 80 with chronic kidney disease and specific kidney function parameters.

Not a fit: Patients with severe heart failure or those who have had recent hospitalizations may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve heart health and overall outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease.

How similar studies have performed: While colchicine has been studied for various inflammatory conditions, its application in uremic cardiomyopathy is relatively novel and not extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
A. Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 21 years to 80 years (inclusive)
* eGFR of 15 to 75 mL/min per 1.73 m2
* Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of greater than 30 mg/g
* Use of maximally tolerated doses of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker if urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio greater than 300 mg-g
* Use of a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor if indicated in the opinion of the participant's primary clinician
* Willing and able to provide written informed consent and to adhere to the study protocol

B. Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of intolerance or allergy to colchicine
2. Hospitalization for any reason within the previous 30 days
3. Acute condition that requires emergent treatment in the opinion of a physician investigator
4. Stage C or D heart failure according to ACC-AHA criteria77
5. Left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%
6. Symptomatic valvular heart disease
7. Congenital heart disease (corrected or uncorrected)
8. History of orthotopic heart transplant
9. Kidney failure, defined as kidney transplant recipient or requirement for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
10. Worsening kidney function or acute kidney injury, defined as an increase in serum creatinine of greater than 0.3 mg/dL in the previous 30 days or 50% within the previous 7 days
11. Use of immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory medications within the previous 30 days, with the exception of less than 5 days of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids for acute pain or other acute conditions that have since fully resolved provided that the last dose of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug was at least 7 days before enrollment
12. Familial Mediterranean Fever, gout (unless no flare within the previous 12 months), pericarditis or other indications for colchicine treatment
13. Use of systemic antimicrobial therapy within the previous 30 days or active infection
14. History of respiratory illness that, in the opinion of a physician investigator, may increase the risk of pneumonia
15. Surgery within the previous 30 days or surgery planned to occur within the expected study period
16. Current malignancy or receipt of treatment for malignancy within the previous 1 year
17. Frailty or life-expectancy shortened by comorbidity such as cancer that would increase the participant's risk in the opinion of a physician investigator
18. Neutrophil count \< 2,000 cells/mm3
19. Platelet count \< 50,000 cells/mm3
20. Concomitant use of a P-gp inhibitor (e.g., cyclosporine, ranolazine, digoxin) and/or moderate-strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, ritonavir, nefazodone, diltiazem, verapamil, grapefruit juice, fluconazole)
21. Medications that may cause myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (i.e., simvastatin, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) , a creatine kinase level after the run-in period that exceeds the upper limit of the normal laboratory reference range (if baseline was below the upper limit) or that increases by 50% or more from pre- to post-run-in
22. Moderate-severe hepatic disease (Child-Pugh B or C)
23. Pregnant or unwilling/unable to assure appropriate contraception
24. Breastfeeding

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Chronic Kidney Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.