Specifics of Treatment of Hyperuricemia with Febuxostat and Its Effects on Concentrations of Total, LDL and HDL Cholesterol, Compared to the Conventional Treatment with Allopurinol

Abstract

Hyperuricemia is a potential marker of cardiovascular diseases, and its relation to hypertension and arteriosclerosis, as well as the outcomes of certain cardiovascular events, is interesting. The research was carried out a sample of 50 subjects of both sexes, who were either on allopurinol or febuxostat treatment. Effects of allopurinol and febuxostat on concentrations of uric acid and some lipid fractions (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol) were observed in 25 subjects on allopurinol treatment, and in 25 subjects on febuxostat treatment, who were chosen by defined criteria, with each patient serving as his or her control. The total observation period was six months and the cut was made after the first three months and at the end of the research. Evaluating the effectiveness of allopurinol in subjects with hyperuricemia, it was established that concentrations of uric acid decreased by 126.28±20.36 µmol/L, at the end of the research, compared to the initial concentration. In subjects who used febuxostat, at the end of the research, concentrations of uric acid decreased by 252.80±94.17 µmol/L, compared to the initial concentration. Evaluating the effectiveness of febuxostat on concentrations of lipid fractions, a statistically significant increase of 0.17±0.02 mmol/L in concentrations of HDL and a statistically significant decrease of 0.37±0.14 mmol/L in concentrations of LDL were noted. Subjects with gout treated with allopurinol had significantly lower average concentrations of cholesterol compared to subjects with gout and metabolic syndrome (p=0.001). Subjects with gout and metabolic syndrome had significantly higher concentrations of LDL at the beginning and the end of the research, regardless of therapy (p=0.045;p=0.049, respectively). Both drugs showed effectiveness in the treatment of hyperuricemia, and a certain effect on concentrations of lipid fractions.