Tag: Renal excretion

Research has documented that ethambutol, a drug used to treat tuberculosis, can cause a significant rise in serum uric acid levels in a majority of treated patients. So, does ethambutol increase uric acid and what does this mean for patients during their treatment regimen?

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in adult men, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. This painful condition is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, a state known as hyperuricemia, leading to the formation and deposition of urate crystals in the joints. To combat this, certain medications utilize a specific action known as the uricosuric effect to manage uric acid levels.

Hyperuricemia, or elevated uric acid, occurs in 43% to 100% of patients treated with the tuberculosis medication pyrazinamide [1.2.2]. Understanding **how does pyrazinamide cause hyperuricemia?** involves examining its primary metabolite and its effect on kidney transporters, which significantly reduces the renal clearance of uric acid [1.2.2].