title: Improving the use of allopurinol in chronic gout: monitoring oxypurinol levels to guide therapy.
abstract: Urate-lowering therapy (ULT), adjusted to achieve and maintain a serum uric acid (SUA) of <6 mg/dl, remains the standard of care for the chronic management of gout. New urate-lowering medications are important options; however, these agents should be reserved for patients who do not tolerate or cannot achieve SUA <6 mg/dl on allopurinol. The result of oxypurinol monitoring to guide allopurinol therapy suggests that allopurinol should still be considered first-line ULT for gout.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University and Rheumatology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Michael.Keith@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Gilliland
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015210:Arthritis, Gouty / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010117:Oxypurinol / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D014527:Uric Acid; D000493:Allopurinol; D010117:Oxypurinol