Single-dose, open-label study of the differences in pharmacokinetics of colchicine in subjects with renal impairment, including end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND AND
OBJECTIVE: The effect of renal impairment on colchicine pharmacokinetics in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been studied previously. We evaluated the effect of renal impairment on colchicine pharmacokinetics in patients with CKD.
METHODS: The pharmacokinetics and safety of a single, oral 0.6-mg dose of colchicine was evaluated in an open-label study in eight healthy subjects with normal renal function; eight subjects each with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment; and eight subjects with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who received a single dose prior to receiving, and again following, hemodialysis.
RESULTS: Colchicine exposure was similar for subjects with normal renal function, mild impairment, or ESRD prior to and during hemodialysis (24.7-31.7 ng·h/mL), but was up to twofold higher in subjects with moderate or severe renal impairment (48.9 and 48.0 ng·h/mL, respectively). A very small amount of the colchicine dose (mean of 5.2 %) was recovered in dialysate.
CONCLUSIONS: It appears that patients with mild or moderate renal impairment or those actively receiving hemodialysis do not show accumulation of colchicine, whereas those with severe renal impairment show a doubling of exposure. All patients with renal impairment taking colchicine should be closely monitored, especially as many patients taking colchicine often have other comorbidities and may be taking other medications.