Summary
This study examined dosage prescribing patterns and steady-state oxipurinol plasma concentrations in 66 patients receiving chronic allopurinol therapy. Most patients (65%) were taking 300 mg allopurinol daily, although renal impairment was common.
Using published guidelines, it was estimated that 35% of patients were receiving excessive dosages of allopurinol. Consequently, the plasma oxipurinol concentrations were often very high (mean (SD) was 156 (109) μmol·1−1). Accumulation of oxipurinol was inversely related to renal function. Plasma concentrations of oxipurinol and urate were not significantly related. However, most patients with oxipurinol concentrations of up to 100 μmol·1−1 had urate concentrations within the normal reference range.
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Peterson, G.M., Boyle, R.R., Francis, H.W. et al. Dosage prescribing and plasma oxipurinol levels in patients receiving allopurinol therapy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 39, 419–421 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315424
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315424