title: Dosage prescribing and plasma oxipurinol levels in patients receiving allopurinol therapy.
abstract: 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) mumol.l-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 mumol.l-1 had urate concentrations within the normal reference range.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: von Witt
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010117:Oxypurinol / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000493:Allopurinol; D010117:Oxypurinol