The efficacy of combined low dose of Allopurinol and benzbromarone compared to standard dose of Allopurinol in hyperuricemia.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of combined low dose of hypouricemic drugs (Allopurinol 100 mg and benzbromarone 20 mg; Allomaron) and standard dose 300 mg of allopurinol in hyperuricemia.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective, open study of 94 hyperuricemic patients was done at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Each group of 47 patients was given a combined low dose of hypouricemic drugs (Allopurinol 100 mg and benzbromarone 20 mg; Allomaron) and a standard dose 300 mg of allopurinol. Serum uric acid was measured before and 4 weeks after receiving the drugs. The efficacy was measured from the difference of the level of serum uric acid before and after receiving the drugs.

RESULTS

The patients receiving the combined low dose of hypouricemic drugs and standard dose of allopurinol showed a mean reduction of serum uric acid of 2.5+/-3.4 mg/dl and 4.1+/-2.7 mg/dl consecutively. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.010).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the efficacy of standard dose 300 mg of allopurinol is superior to a combined low dose of allopurinol and benzbromarone in lowering the level of serum uric acid level.