STUDY IN HYPERURICEMIC PATIENTS TO KNOW THE FENOFIBRATE SAFETY AND ITS EFFICACY

Background: Allopurinol is commonly used as antihypertensive medicine. Fenofibrate, a fibric acid derivative, is widely used in hyperlipidemia treatment. Fenofibrate reduce serum uric acid levels effectively. Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fenofibrate in patients with hyperuricemia. Study Design: Interventional Study Place and Duration: The study was performed in the Out Patient Department of Nephrology Unit of Nishter Hospital, Multan for the period of six months from January 2017 to July 2017. Materials and methods: Sixty hyperuricemic patients with serum uric acid levels of desil- lary or higher of 7.0 mg were enrolled and assigned to receive 300 mg allofurinol or 200 mg fenofibrate for 12 weeks. The efficacy of the drug was measured in percentage of patients successfully controlling serum uric acid levels of less than 6 mg P. Dl at 90 days. The efficacy of the drug was also checked by measuring the percentage of serum uric acid levels changes at day 1 to 90 days. Safety was checked by observing side effects (AE) and laboratory investigations. Findings: The percentage comparison of cases in which uric acid level in serum was lower than 6.5 mg at 90th day in both groups was statically significant (P = 0.14). However, the percentage difference in uric acid level between 0 and 90 days was significantly highly among the two groups (p = 0.001). Although the proportion of individuals experiencing any side effects was greater in the fenofibrate group, the side effects that caused the allopurinol group to discontinue treatment were found to be higher. Conclusion: Fenofibrate 200 mg is an effective antihypertensive agent once a day. Key words: Uric acid, Fenofibrate, hyperuricemia.