A single dose of rasburicase in elderly patients with hyperuricaemia reduces serum uric acid levels and improves renal function.
OBJECTIVE
Given the relevance of hyperuricaemia in the development of several diseases, we evaluated rasburicase, generally used in tumor lysis syndrome for uric acid treatment. Our purpose was to evaluate the reduction of serum uric acid and the improvement in renal function.


METHODS
This is a pilot randomized clinical trial. The study was performed as an 8-week, placebo-controlled group comparison of rasburicase and placebo. Thirty-eight patients were randomly assigned to administration of a single dose of rasburicase (4.5 mg in 100-cc physiological solution versus only physiological solution in 15 min).


RESULTS
We observed in the first week a fast decrease in uric acid value. Two months after rasburicase administration we saw a significant reduction of urate (p < 0.05) and creatinine (p < 0.001) and an increase in creatinine clearance (p < 0.001) and urate clearance (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In hyperuricaemic elderly patients, a single dose of rasburicase is very effective in lowering serum uric acid levels. Moreover, in patients treated with rasburicase we noted an improvement of renal function. We conclude that rasburicase is an alternative resource for treating those patients who are allopurinol intolerant, have renal dysfunction or have multiple polypharmacy problems in which drug-drug interaction may be of concern.
Malaguarnera
Mariano
M
Department of Senescence, University of Catania, Urological and Neurological Sciences, Ospedale Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy. malaguar@unict.it
Vacante
Marco
M
Russo
Cristina
C
Dipasquale
Giovanna
G
Gargante
Maria Pia
MP
Motta
Massimo
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014503:Urate Oxidase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
C469709:rasburicase; D014527:Uric Acid; D014503:Urate Oxidase