Some adverse reactions to allopurinol may be mediated by lymphocyte reactivity to oxypurinol.
Six of 9 patients with previously documented adverse reactions to allopurinol exhibited transformation of their peripheral blood lymphocytes when these were exposed in vitro to the allopurinol metabolite, oxypurinol. In 2 of these subjects, intradermal skin challenge was positive at 48 hours with either allopurinol or oxypurinol. The evidence presented suggests that some adverse reactions to allopurinol represent delayed-type hypersensitivity to oxypurinol.
Emmerson
B T
BT
Department of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Hazelton
R A
RA
Frazer
I H
IH
D000493:Allopurinol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010117:Oxypurinol / Q000276:immunology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D011743:Pyrimidines; D000493:Allopurinol; D010117:Oxypurinol