A case of recurrent benign pericarditis treated by colchicine.

After five recurrences of idiopathic pericarditis over a period of 8 months on steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy, a splenectomized patient aged 31 years benefited from treatment with colchicine. He was treated for one year without any recurrence. A relapse occurred 6, 7 and 17 months after having stopped the drug. This observation raises the question whether colchicine might be beneficial in recurrent benign pericarditis with or without corticodependence and have a prophylactic action against recurrences.