Hyperuricemia has been associated with several cardiovascular risk factors and is a well-known predictor of kidney disease. In vitro studies as well as animal models highlighted a role for uric acid in the development and progression of haemodynamic and tissue damage at the renal level leading to glomerular and tubulointerstitial abnormalities. Urate-lowering treatment, especially by xanthine oxidase inhibitors, has been proposed in order to improve kidney outcomes. However, recent randomized controlled trials failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect of allopurinol or febuxostat on renal disease, casting doubts on the role of this therapeutical approach to improve nephroprotection. We provide a critical overview of current literature on this topic and offer a possible interpretation of results from recent intervention trials with urate-lowering treatment on renal outcomes.
Keywords: allopurinol; chronic kidney disease; disease progression; hyperuricemia; nephroprotection; urate-lowering treatment; uric acid.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.