Efficacy of allopurinol and benzbromarone for the control of hyperuricaemia. A pathogenic approach to the treatment of primary chronic gout

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 57; no. 9; pp. 545 - 549
• Main Authors: Perez-Ruiz, F, Alonso-Ruiz, A, Calabozo, M, Herrero-Beites, A, García-Erauskin, G, Ruiz-Lucea, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.09.1998; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol use; allopurinol; Allopurinol - therapeutic use; benzbromarone; Benzbromarone - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Disease; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug dosages; Extended Reports; gout; Gout - blood; Gout - drug therapy; gout suppressants; Gout Suppressants - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Patients; Prospective Studies; Rheumatism; Uric acid; Uric Acid - blood; Uricosuric Agents - therapeutic use; Urine; Human; Biochemical analysis; Benzbromarone; Hypouricemic agent; Allopurinol; Treatment efficiency; Gout; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Metabolic diseases; Uric acid; Uricosuric agent; Hyperuricemia; Chemotherapy; Chronic; Treatment; Arthropathy; Serum; Mechanism of action; Microcrystal; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.57.9.545

OBJECTIVES To study the efficacy of allopurinol and benzbromarone to reduce serum urate concentrations in patients with primary chronic gout. METHODS Prospective, parallel, open study of 86 consecutive male patients with primary chronic gout. Forty nine patients (26 normal excretors and 23 under excretors) were given allopurinol 300 mg/day and 37 under excretors benzbromarone 100 mg/day. After achieving steady plasma urate concentrations with such doses, treatment was then adjusted to obtain optimal plasmatic urate concentrations (under 6 mg/dl). RESULTS Patients receiving allopurinol 300 mg/day showed a mean reduction of plasmatic urate of 2.75 mg/dl (from 8.60 to 5.85 mg/dl) and 3.34 mg/dl (from 9.10 to 5.76 mg/dl) in normal excretors and under excretors respectively. Patients receiving benzbromarone 100 mg/day achieved a reduction of plasmatic urate of 5.04 mg/dl (from 8.58 to 3.54 mg/dl). Fifty three per cent of patients receiving allopurinol and 100% receiving benzbromarone achieved optimal plasma urate concentrations at such doses. The patients with poor results with allopurinol 300 mg/day achieved a proper plasma urate concentration with allopurinol 450 to 600 mg/day, the mean final dose being 372 mg/day. Renal fuction improved and no case of renal lithiasis was observed among benzbromarone treated patients, whose mean final dose was 76 mg/day. CONCLUSION Benzbromarone is very effective to control plasma urate concentrations at doses ranging from 50 to 100 mg/day. Uricosuric treatment is a suitable approach to the treatment of patients with gout who show underexcretion of urate.