Safety and Efficacy of LOw DOse COlchicine in Patients With STatin INTolerance: the LODOCO STINT Pilot Study

Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering medications that contribute to reducing a person's risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event like heart attack. Along with the ability to lower cholesterol, statins also possess anti-inflammatory properties which contribute to their cardioprotective effects. Some people experience side effects while taking statins and are unable to continue treatment with them,which can then increase a person's risk of having cardiovascular issues due to untreated high cholesterol levels. Prior studies have shown that inflammation in the body may lead to an increased risk of a future cardiovascular events. Low dose colchicine (LODOCO), an anti-inflammatory agent, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events by inhibiting inflammation, a major cause of cardiovascular disease. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LODOCO to reduce the risk of a future cardiac events for those who have existing heart disease or possess multiple risk factors for heart disease.