TREATMENT EFFICACY OF URATE-LOWERING THERAPY WITH THE USE OF ALLOPURINOL AND FEBUXOSTAT IN PATIENTS WITH GOUT

Abstract

Gout is the largest joint disease with a different spectrum of clinical manifestation. In addition to recurrent acute arthritis, subcutaneous tophus and chronic pain, it has a significant effect on morbidity and premature mortality as comorbid pathology.

The aim of the study – to evaluate the effectiveness of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) with the use of allopurinol and febuxostat in patients with gout.

Materials and Methods. The study involved 110 patients with gout (100 % men, mean age (52.6±9.6 years). Among the surveyed 37 patients with the presence of tophi. In order to reduce serum uric acid (UA) patients used febuxostat or allopurinol. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated after 24 weeks.

Results and Discussion. Under the influence of ULT positive dynamics of clinical and laboratory parameters was noted, but in patients with tophi it was less pronounced. Patients using ULT febuxostat showed better dynamics of indicators such as the frequency of exacerbations of gouty arthritis during the last year, serum UA, activity by GAS, and the intensity of pain by VAS. Also, the probability of achieving the target UA levels in patients receiving febuxostat is three times higher (OR = 3.52; 95 % CI 1.46; 8.45) than in patients using allopurinol.

Conclusions. The use of febuxostat for urate-lowering therapy allows faster achievement of target levels of uric acid and regression of arthrological status.