Background  

Hyperuricemia has been associated with the development of hypertension, cardiovascular, and renal disease. However, there is no data about the effect of lowering uric acid level on hypertension, renal function, and proteinuria in patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >60 ml/min. We therefore conducted a prospective study to investigate the benefits of allopurinol treatment in hyperuricemic patients with normal renal function.

Materials and methods  

Forty-eight hyperuricemic and 21 normouricemic patients were included in the study. Hyperuricemic patients received 300 mg/day allopurinol for three months. All patients’ serum creatinine level, 24-h urine protein level, glomerular filtration rate, and blood pressure levels were measured at baseline and after three months of treatment.

Results  

A total of 59 patients completed the three-month follow-up period of observation. In the allopurinol group, serum uric acid levels, GFR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels significantly improved (P < 0.05). However, urine protein excretion remained unchanged (P > 0.05). No correlation was observed between changes in GFR and changes in CRP, or blood pressure in the allopurinol group. No significant changes were observed in the control group (P > 0.05).

Conclusion  

We bring indirect evidence that hyperuricemia increases blood pressure, and decreases GFR. Hence, management of hyperuricemia may prevent the progression of renal disease, even in patients with normal renal function, suggesting that early treatment with allopurinol should be an important part of the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to identify the benefits of uric acid management on renal function and hypertension.