Garavito, A.A., Cardona, A.F., Reveiz, L., Ospina, E., Yepes, A., & Ospina, V. (2008). Colchicine mouth washings to improve oral mucositis in patients with hematological malignancies: A clinical trial. Palliative & Supportive Care, 6, 371–376.
To evaluate the use of colchicine solution in the treatment of mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy
Group A (control) used a 9% sodium chloride (NaCl) and water solution. Group B used a colchicine solution of 2 mg dissolved in 500 cc of sterile water starting the first day of symptoms of oral mucositis until the fifth day of the disease (inflammatory phase). Following the fifth day, patients in group B received same as group A. The solution for both groups was prepared fresh every morning. Both groups gargled for two minutes, four times a day while being supervised by a researcher. Twice a day, patients brushed with a soft toothbrush, if possible. During the study, patients were allowed concomitant interventions for oral mucositis (OM), such as systemic antibiotics, antimycotics, antivirials, antiemetics, analgesics, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support. Cryotherapy and other oral mouthwashes were not permitted.
The study was conducted in an inpatient cancer center in Bogota, Columbia.
This study used a single arm, nonrandomized, sequentially enrolled, historical control group.
Colchicine mouthwash may be helpful in reducing the severity and duration of chemotherapy-induced OM.
Further studies are needed to confirm results. This was done in an inpatient setting under direct supervision; these findings may not be applicable in other situations.