[Metabolic disorder of purine nucleotide in patients with renal disease].

The serum levels of uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine tended to increase with the decrease of renal function. This mechanism was thought to be the decreased excretion of these materials from the kidney. More than ninety percent of the patients with renal insufficiency (Ccr < or = 30 ml/min) showed hyperuricemia. In general, the gouty arthritis was reported to be uncommon in the patients with secondary hyperuricemia due to renal insufficiency. However, the frequency of gouty arthritis was reported to be high in the patients with polycystic disease and lead nephropathy. The therapeutic standard for secondary hyperuricemia with renal insufficiency was not established. Allopurinol is the drug of choice for controlling hyperuricemia due to renal insufficiency in many cases. In renal insufficiency, the drug must be used cautiously and in reduced dosage because increased serum concentration of oxipurinol, active metabolite of allopurinol, may induce severe side effect.