Abstract

Introduction: Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for the development of many diseases. Aim: The aim of this paper is to compare the effects of allopurinol and febuxostat on the values of triglycerides and uric acid in hyperuricemic patients. Methods: This was a pharmacological-clinical retrospective-prospective study. The research sample comprised 50 examinees of both genders and different ages who were undergoing allopurinol (100 mg/day) or febuxostat (80 mg/day) therapy. Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Software and Microsoft Excel were used for statistical analysis. Results: Examinees who were treated with allopurinol had a statistically significant decrease in uric acid concentrations (by 126.28 ± 20.36 µmol/l) at the end of the observation compared to the initial values (p = 0.006). Examinees who were treated with febuxostat had a statistically significant decrease in uric acid concentrations (by 252.80 ± 94.17 µmol/l) at the end of the observation compared to the initial values (p = 0.001). The initial value of triglycerides was 1.58 ± 0.64 mmol/l in allopurinol-treated examinees, and 1.60 ± 0.52 mmol/l in febuxostat-treated examinees. After three and six months of allopurinol use, there was a statistically significant increase in triglyceride values (p = 0.046 and p = 0.042, respectively). A statistically significant decrease in triglyceride values (by 0.16 ± 0.10 mmol/l) was noted after three months of febuxostat use (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The results of this research confirmed the previous findings and pointed out the positive pharmacological effects of allopurinol and febuxostat.

Key words: hyperuricemia, allopurinol, febuxostat, uric acid, triglycerides.