Effect of Long-Term Allopurinol Administration on Serial GFR in Normotensive and Hypertensive Hyperuricemic Subjects

Abstract

Acute experiments of uric acid infusion in animals and the clinical observation that in patients with gout there is an increased incidence of renal lesions, suggested that high levels of plasma uric acid may be detrimental to the kidney and cause a decrease in renal function. It is not known, however, whether hyperuricemia, not clinically associated with gout, causes kidney damage, nor is it known whether therapeutic reduction of serum uric acid levels slows the rate of the deterioration of renal function in such patients. To establish whether maintenance of normal plasma uric acid concentration in patients with hyperuricemia associated with various diseases has any effect on serial determination of GFR or slows the rate of kidney deterioration, this study was planned.