COLCHICINE TO ATTENUATE MYOCARDIAL INJURY IN COVID-19 (CAMI-C-19) [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COLCHICINE TO ATTENUATE MYOCARDIAL INJURY IN COVID-19 (CAMI-C-19)
IRAS ID
282322
Contact name
Ramzi Khamis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Eudract number
2020-001522-62
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
COVID-19 is the cause of the major current global public health emergency. Early\nreports from Wuhan, China describe important associations of cardiac complications with COVID-19 mortality. Moreover, worse outcomes are being reported in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors. An elevated troponin, an enzyme that is released into blood in response to heart injury, is also reported in patients with COVID-19, and is associated with worse outcomes. It is presumed that the rise in cardiac enzymes is related to heart inflammation. However, it has not been possible to assess further owing to difficulties performing our usual imaging (cardiac MRI) (for example, patient instability, workload, risks to healthcare workers), and with the prevalence of coronary artery disease and risk factors, there is the possibility of the virus triggering a heart attack. In addition, widespread blood clots have also been reported in COVID-19 patient post-mortem studies. It is possible that small blood clots may be the cause of the heart damage.\n\nCoronavirus infection leads to activation of the immune system which can result in over-activation and actual harm. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory medication that may help in this setting. It is used routinely in the treatment of pericardial inflammation (inflammation of the lining of the heart), and more recently, it has also been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease in patients suffering from heart attacks.\n\nThe study objective is to determine the effect of Colchicine on patients with myocardial injury and COVID-19. We hypothesise that Colchicine may improve the complications of heart injury seen in COVID-19 caused by a combination of heart inflammation and heart attack, rather than widespread blood clots, which is seen frequently on post-mortem. Using Colchicine will improve the former mechanisms, but not the latter. \n
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0137
Date of REC Opinion
22 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion