The use of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, in the control of hyperuricaemia, gout and uric acid calculi.

Abstract

SUMMARYAllopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, was administered to 11 patients with various disorders of urate metabolism and observations were made of the resultant effects on the serum and urine concentrations of urate and of the oxypurines, xanthine and hypoxanthine. The renal clearance rates of urate, creatinine and the oxypurines were estimated before and during allopurinol therapy. Doses of allopurinol of between 300 and 400 mg. per day restored the serum urate concentrations to normal in all cases and were associated with a slight rise in the serum concentrations of the oxypurines. The urinary excretion of urate fell and that of the oxypurines rose. The total urinary excretion of urate and the oxypurines was reduced by allopurinol therapy. The oxypurines were excreted well even in the presence of renal impairment. No serious complications of therapy were observed, although some patients continued to be troubled by attacks of acute gouty arthritis during the first few months of therapy.