Colchicine and post-inflammatory adhesions in a rabbit model: a dose-response study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the dose-response relationship of colchicine in reducing inflammatory adhesive disease secondary to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the rabbit.

METHODS

Following intrauterine inoculation of a suspension of N gonorrhoeae, the rabbits were divided into five groups of 11 rabbits each. The control group received no medications. The remaining four groups received 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg, respectively, of colchicine intramuscularly daily for 14 days. The day after the last injection of colchicine, the peritoneal cavity was explored and assessed for the presence, number, and grade of adhesions.

RESULTS

With increasing doses of colchicine, the incidence of adhesions decreased. A linear model (log [dose + 0.5]) showed, however, that as the dose of colchicine increased, the response tended to plateau (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this model, colchicine was effective in preventing inflammatory adhesions in the rabbit. Increasing doses produced a greater effect in reducing adhesion formation. However, there was a plateau of the response at the 1-mg dose.