Inflammatory processes have been identified as key mediators of ischemia/ reperfusion injury in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. They add additional damage to the myocardium and are associated with clinical adverse events (heart failure and cardiovascular death) and poor myocardial recovery. All the different anti-inflammatory approaches to reduce reperfusion injury have been disappointing.

Colchicine is a well-known substance with potent anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent pilot study performed in 151 acute STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PPCI) Deftereos et al. showed a 50% reduction of infarct size (creatine kinase release) with a short course treatment of colchicine in comparison to placebo.

One mechanism to explain this effect could be the reduction of adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling. LV remodelling is part of the healing process of myocardium after MI. It is defined as the end diastolic volume (EDV) increase in the first months after MI. Adverse LV remodelling is increased by inflammation and ultimately leads to heart failure.

Our main hypothesis is that colchicine with its anti-inflammatory properties significantly reduces the initiation of adverse LV remodelling, together with a significant reduction of infarct size and microvascular obstruction in comparison to placebo in acute STEMI patients referred for PPCI.

After inclusion and randomisation, patients will receive the first part of their experimental treatment: colchicine or placebo before PCI, then, the second part after PCI and during 5 days. They will be followed up during their hospitalization and until one year. In order to evaluate LV remodelling, two cardiac magnetic resonance studies will be performed during their participation: one during their hospitalization and a second at 3 months. At 1 year, adverse events will be collected by phone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients, aged over 18 and <80 years,
• Presenting within 12 hours of chest pain onset,
• With ST segment elevation ≥ 0.2 mV in two contiguous leads or new onset of left bundle branch block,
• Referral for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).
• Preliminary oral informed consent followed by signed informed consent as soon as possible
• With an initially occluded coronary artery (TIMI angiographic flow of the culprit coronary artery ≤1)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with any legal protection measure,
• Patients without any health coverage,
• Patients with loss of consciousness or confused
• Patients with a history of prior myocardial infarction
• Patients with cardiogenic shock as defined by a systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, despite 30 minutes of fluid challenge or requiring intravenous vasoactive agents (dobutamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline)
• Patient with severe liver or known renal dysfunction (known GFR≤30 ml/min)
• Patient with known history of severe drug intolerance to colchicine
• Female patients currently pregnant or women of childbearing age not using contraception (oral diagnosis)
• Patients with any obvious contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (claustrophobia, pace maker, defibrillator….)
• Patients treated by macrolides or pristinamycin
• Chronic treatment with COLCHICINE (Mediterranean familial fever mainly)
• Patient with lactose intolerance
• Patient with swallowing disorders