Allopurinol reduces cardiovascular risks and improves renal function in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients with hyperuricemia

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2014 Mar;25(2):316-20. doi: 10.4103/1319-2442.128520.

Abstract

To determine the effect of hyperuricemia and allopurinol therapy on renal functions in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3-4, we studied 96 patients in stage 3-4 CKD (57% male, age 65.3 ± 12.4 years). The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 44.62 ± 14.38 iriL/ min/1.73 m 2 . The study patients were divided into non-allopurinol users (n = 47) and those using allopurinol (n = 49) in the last 12 months. Serum uric acid (UA) and C-reactive protein levels decreased after allopurinol therapy (P = 0.00 and P = 0.04, respectively), but no change was observed in the control group during the study period. In the allopurinol group, the mean GFR increased 3.3 ±1.2 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year, while it decreased 1.3 ± 0.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in the control group during the follow-up period (P = 0.04); the patients in the allopurinol group exhibited lower levels of serum potassium, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and renal resistance index (RRI) (P-values were <0.05). The patients with stable renal functions or GFR change <10% (n = 25) at the end of 12 months had significantly lower LDL and RRI values and more allopurinol users than the group with decreasing GFR (74% vs. 48%, P <0.05). In the regression analysis, UA and RRI were found as independent variables (r 2 = 0.68, P <0.01; r 2 = 0.25, P <0.01) that affected loss of renal function. We conclude that our study suggests a role for allopurinol, an effective agent in lowering serum UA levels, as a reliable therapeutic option in controlling renal progression in pre-dialysis CKD patients.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Allopurinol / therapeutic use*
  • Antimetabolites / therapeutic use*
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / complications
  • Hyperuricemia / drug therapy*
  • Hyperuricemia / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antimetabolites
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Allopurinol
  • C-Reactive Protein