To determine effectiveness and safety of
colchicine in
Peyronie's disease. In all, 84 patients with
Peyronie's disease who did not have calcified plaque were entered into study. The mean disease duration was 15 months. A medical history was obtained, and physical examination, penile X-ray, and dynamic penile duplex ultrasound were performed. Patients were randomly divided into group 1, those who received 0.5-2.5 mg
colchicine daily for 4 months and group 2, who received placebo for the same period. Response to
therapy was assessed objectively, during dynamic penile duplex ultrasound, as well as subjectively using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and measurements of
pain, duration of
disease, penile curvature, and plaque size. Differences before and
after treatment and among the three Kelami classification groups were assessed. In total, 78 (92.8%) completed the whole treatment schedule.
Pain resolved in 60 and 63.6% of the patients treated with
colchicine and placebo, respectively (P > 0.05). After
therapy, in subjects and controls a reduction in the penile
deformity was observed by 17.1 and 18.4% of the patients (P > 0.05), and a decrease in plaque size was noticed by 10.5 and 10%, respectively (P > 0.05). Objective measurements did not demonstrate any difference in plaque size or penile curvature. There were no substantial differences in response to treatment based on duration of disease or within the three Kelami classification groups. Significant
drug-related adverse effects occurred in
colchicine group and in two cases was treatment discontinued.
Colchicine is no better than placebo in improvement of
pain, curvature angle, or plaque size in patients with
Peyronie's disease.