Final answer:
Colchicine treats acute gout by inhibiting cell division, which decreases inflammation but can cause a decrease in white blood cell count, leading to potential side effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Colchicine is a medication used to treat acute gouty arthritis in patients who are unable to take NSAIDs. The mechanism of action (MOA) of colchicine involves the inhibition of mitosis, which helps to decrease inflammation. Gout is a condition where too much uric acid leads to the formation of painful crystals in the joints. Colchicine benefits people with gout by stopping the cells that contribute to inflammation from multiplying, reducing the painful swelling.
However, this inhibition of cell division can also lead to undesirable side effects, such as a decreased white blood cell count. This is because colchicine affects all rapidly dividing cells, which include not only the inflammatory cells contributing to gout but also cells that are part of the body’s immune system. Therefore, while colchicine can provide relief from the symptoms of gout, its use must be carefully monitored due to the potential impact on the immune system.