Uric Acid Nephropathy Medication
- Author: Mark T Fahlen, MD; Chief Editor: Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN more...
Medication Summary
The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors
Class Summary
Allopurinol is used for the prevention of acute uric acid nephropathy. By blocking the conversion of hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid, it produces a reduction in serum uric acid concentration and in the urinary excretion of urates. Allopurinol is used in the treatment of gouty arthritis.[10, 15, 16] Febuxostat may be considered for patients with allopurinol allergy or for those with renal impairment.
Allopurinol (Zyloprim)
Inhibits xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that synthesizes uric acid from hypoxanthine. Reduces synthesis of uric acid without disrupting biosynthesis of vital purines.
Febuxostat (Uloric)
Xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Prevents uric acid production and lowers elevated serum uric acid levels. May be considered as an alternative to allopurinol. Febuxostat is extensively metabolized in the liver and excreted in the feces and urine, largely as metabolites. No dosage change is necessary unless severe renal or hepatic impairment exists.
Conger JD. Acute uric acid nephropathy. Med Clin North Am. Jul 1990;74(4):859-71. [Medline].
Guest SS. Uric acid and the kidney. In: Nephrology Rounds 4. Snell Medical Communications; 2001:1-5.
Dykman D, Simon EE. Hyperuricemia and uric acid nephropathy. Arch Intern Med. Jul 1987;147(7):1341-5. [Medline].
Nickeleit V, Mihatsch MJ. Uric acid nephropathy and end-stage renal disease--review of a non-disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant. Sep 1997;12(9):1832-8. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Mene P, Punzo G. Uric acid: bystander or culprit in hypertension and progressive renal disease?. J Hypertens. Nov 2008;26(11):2085-92. [Medline].
Avram Z, Krishnan E. Hyperuricaemia--where nephrology meets rheumatology. Rheumatology (Oxford). Jul 2008;47(7):960-4. [Medline].
Iseki K, Ikemiya Y, Inoue T, et al. Significance of hyperuricemia as a risk factor for developing ESRD in a screened cohort. Am J Kidney Dis. Oct 2004;44(4):642-50. [Medline].
Edwards NL. The role of hyperuricemia and gout in kidney and cardiovascular disease. Cleve Clin J Med. Jul 2008;75 Suppl 5:S13-6. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Johnson RJ, Segal MS, Srinivas T, et al. Essential hypertension, progressive renal disease, and uric acid: a pathogenetic link?. J Am Soc Nephrol. Jul 2005;16(7):1909-19. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Pea F. Pharmacology of drugs for hyperuricemia. Mechanisms, kinetics and interactions. Contrib Nephrol. 2005;147:35-46. [Medline].
Lin JL, Yu CC, Lin-Tan DT, et al. Lead chelation therapy and urate excretion in patients with chronic renal diseases and gout. Kidney Int. Jul 2001;60(1):266-71. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Bainbridge SA, Deng JS, Roberts JM. Increased xanthine oxidase in the skin of preeclamptic women. Reprod Sci. Feb 5 2009;[Medline].
Mukherjee E, Mukherji D, Jayawardene SA, et al. Tumor lysis syndrome and acute renal failure--an increasing spectrum of presentations. Clin Nephrol. Sep 2007;68(3):186-9. [Medline].
Fagugli RM, Gentile G, Ferrara G, et al. Acute renal and hepatic failure associated with allopurinol treatment. Clin Nephrol. Dec 2008;70(6):523-6. [Medline].
Ueng S. Rasburicase (Elitek): a novel agent for tumor lysis syndrome. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). Jul 2005;18(3):275-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Hochberg J, Cairo MS. Rasburicase: future directions in tumor lysis management. Expert Opin Biol Ther. Oct 2008;8(10):1595-604. [Medline].
Feig DI, Kang DH, Johnson RJ. Uric acid and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med. Oct 23 2008;359(17):1811-21. [Medline].

