Improvement in Patients With Cutaneous Lesions and Beh\l=c;\et'sSyndrome

Six patients with necrotizing vasculitis were treated with oral colchicine as part of an open study. Four patients with cutaneous vasculitis and normal levels of serum complement and one patient with vasculitis associated with Beh\l=c;\et'ssyndrome demonstrated clinical improvement while receiving colchicine. One patient with cryoglobulinemia, hypocomplementemia, and cutaneous vasculitis showed no response to colchicine therapy. In three patients, clinical improvement persisted after its withdrawal. Colchicine may be effective in controlling cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis and Beh\l=c;\et'ssyndrome through its effect on polymorphonuclear leukocyte function. (Arch Dermatol 115:1303-1306, 1979)