Trial of Colchicine Versus Prednisone for the Treatment of Acute CPPD Arthritis (NCT03128905) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 3
Trial of Colchicine Versus Prednisone for the Treatment of Acute CPPD Arthritis
France111 participantsStarted 2018-02-05
Plain-language summary
Chondrocalcinosis, recently renamed the calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, is a very frequent affection of the elderly and causes very painful arthritis.
International recommendations for the treatment of patients suffering from CPPD are based upon rare studies, not randomized, with small samples, and thus very weak scientific evidence.
The treatment of CPPD arthritis is extrapolated from the experience of gout treatment, another crystal deposition disease.
Among recommended treatments, colchicine and oral steroids are recommended as first-line treatments, while NSAIDs are used with caution in elderly populations of patients.
Colchicine utilization is not risk-free, in particular with old patients and patients with renal impairment.
Drug interactions of colchicine can have serious consequences, especially in a polymedicated old patient's population.
Oral steroids are an interesting alternative in this indication with a potential of being better tolerated, but comparative efficacy with colchicine needs to be studied.
From a broader point of view, colchicine and oral steroids have never been compared in any crystal related arthritis.
This is the first large randomized controlled trial for CPPD acute arthritis.
Who can participate
Age range
65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patient aged 65 and older
* Patient with mono/polyarticular CPPD acute arthritis
* Hospitalized patient (without infectious syndrome considered insufficiently controlled by the clinicians and diabetic decompensation)
* Diagnosis confirmed :
* By the evidence of CPP crystals on synovial fluid examination.
* By the existence of a typical clinical arthritis (joint pain, erythema, swelling, maximal intensity in less than 24h) AND presence of chondrocalcinosis signs in knee, wrists, or pubic symphysis on plain X-rays or crowned tooth in cervical rachis scan.
* Pain VAS ≥ 40/100 at the enrollment
* Duration of symptoms evolution for less than 36h.
* No prior intake of oral steroids, colchicine or NSAIDs for this acute arthritis.
* Signed patient's consent.
* Affiliation to a social security scheme.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Contraindication to colchicine (creatinine clearance below 30ml/min, severe hepatic dysfunction, macrolide or ongoing pristinamycin or macrolid treatment, …) or corticoids utilization (uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled progressive infection, uncontrolled arterial hypertension…)
* Severe cognitive disorders that does not allow patient to evaluate his pain.
* Patient under guardianship, curatorship
* Patient receiving morphinic analgesia.
* Gout history or presence of monosodium urate crystals at the examination of the synovial fluid.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change from baseline in the pain VAS at 24 hours
Timeframe: From the first treatment administration to 24 hours after.