Colchicine in Neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND

Colchicine is an ancient drug. Many uses have been reported in medical books and reports through the centuries. Currently the understanding of its mechanism of action has opened new horizons to its use.

OBJECTIVE

This article aims to discuss the use of colchicine in various neurosurgical conditions.

METHODS

A pubmed database and clinical trials search was performed, using the key words "colchicine", "Neurosurgery", "low back pain", "stroke" and glioma".

RESULTS

Various reports were found contemplating the use of colchicine in chronic low-back pain. The effect of the drug on neutrophil chemotaxis and its role as an anti-inflammatory agent has been the main argument upon which such use of colchicine has been structured. These characteristics have been the key to initiate colchicine as a preventive agent in vascular conditions. Furthermore, as colchicine is an antimitotic drug, it is currently being studied as a potential anti-glioma agent. However, the narrow therapeutic index of the drug is a discouraging factor in clinical application of colchicine in these entities. Therefore, colchicine derivatives that can exert the same effectiveness in lower doses are being studied, forming a new direction in colchicine use.

CONCLUSIONS

Colchicine is a drug that over the years has shown promising results in certain neurosurgical entities. Its derivatives or potential colchicine-like agents might have a more significant place in neurosurgical practice.