Exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EIAKI) is frequently complicated with renal hypouricemia (RHUC). In patients with RHUC, limiting anaerobic exercise can prevent EIAKI. However, it is challenging to reduce exercise intensity in athletes. We herein report a 16-year-old Japanese football player with familial RHUC with compound heterozygous mutations in urate transporter 1 (URAT1) who presented with recurrent EIAKI. As prophylaxis (hydration during exercise) could not prevent EIAKI, febuxostat was initiated. EIAKI was not observed for 16 months despite exercising intensively. Hence, non-purine-selective xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors may decrease the incidence of EIAKI in athletes with RHUC.
Keywords: athlete; exercise-induced acute kidney injury; febuxostat; renal hypouricemia; selective xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor.