Combined therapy targets inflammation

Researchers conducting a small study on treating hidradenitis suppurativa with a combination of colchicine and minocycline report the drugs’ combined anti-inflammatory actions effectively controlled the chronic inflammatory skin disease. The combination approach also is safe for maintaining treatment results, they write.

The study, published March 2017 in the International Journal of Dermatology, is a prospective series of 20 patients. Researchers in Athens, Greece, studied 10 women and 10 men treated in the first six months with 100 mg minocycline given once daily, orally, combined with 0.2 mg colchicine twice daily. The patients continued with a maintenance treatment of oral 0.5 mg colchicine, taken twice a day for three months.

Researchers examined patients at the study’s start and every three months, for a total nine months. Treatment success was based on results from the physician’s global assessment (PGA) scale, the Hurley scoring system and Dermatology Life Quality Index.

According to the study, Hurley and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores showed significant improvement in subjects’ clinical manifestations of hidradenitis suppurativa. PGA scale results suggest substantial improvement or complete remission among patients on the combination regimen.

Reference: Armyra K, Kouris A, Markantoni V, Katsambas A, Kontochristopoulos G. Hidradenitis suppurativa treated with tetracycline in combination with colchicine: a prospective series of 20 patients. Int J Dermatol. 2017 Mar;56(3):346-350.