Article Text
Abstract
Background Febuxostat is metabolized mainly in the liver and is excreted through both urine and feces, suggesting that it may be an alternative choice for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, there are insufficient data on the use of febuxostat in patients undergoing dialysis.
Objectives The aims of our study were to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of febuxostat in hyperuricemic patients on dialysis.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical and laboratory data from two tertiary referral centers from January 2012 to December 2015. We included 49 patients with underlying CKD on dialysis who started febuxostat treatment in the two hospitals.
Results The mean age of the study patients was 54.4±12.5 year and follow-up duration was 12.7±10.2 months (Table 1). Among 41 patients who were treated with febuxostat for over 3 months, the mean serum uric acid level at 3 months after treatment (4.97±1.84 mg/dL) was significantly reduced compared with the pretreatment level (9.61± 2.18 mg/dL) (p<0.001). And the serum uric acid level stayed significantly lower for 12 months without deterioration in eGFR. Of the 49 patients, only 2 stopped the medication due to adverse event. The two patients who stopped taking febuxostat were on peritoneal dialysis.
Conclusions Febuxostat is efficacious and well tolerated in hyperuricemic patients undergoing dialysis. Close observation for adverse events might be needed for patients on peritoneal dialysis.
Disclosure of Interest None declared