2019 Volume 62 Issue 2 Pages 85-90
We encountered a case of recurrent and longstanding oropharyngeal ulcers which was refractory to oral corticosteroid therapy that responded well to colchicine. Herein, we report on the possible underlying mechanism, with some consideration of the literature. A 47-year-old man was admitted to our department a 1-month history of sore throat, and was diagnosed as having refractory oropharyngeal ulcers, as he had failed to respond to oral corticosteroid therapy. Treatment with oral colchicine, which has been reported in published literature as being potentially effective, was associated with symptomatic improvement. Subsequent recurrence of the symptoms was also relieved by the same treatment, and we concluded that colchicine treatment was successful in this case. Although colchicine is a therapeutic agent for gout, it has been reported to be potentially effective for refractory oropharyngeal ulcers, possibly through controlling the functions of neutrophils. The drug has also been established as a promising treatment for Behcet's disease, and in cases of refractory oropharyngeal ulcers that prove responsive to colchicine, it is necessary to take into consideration the possibility that the symptoms of Behcet's disease will follow after a while.
