Archive for category New Research
New Study: Women with Gout at Much Higher Risk of Heart Attack
Posted by Victor Konshin in Gout Treatments, New Research on February 9th, 2010
A new study released this month shows that women with gout have a much higher risk of having a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) then previously thought. It’s been long known that women with gout are at higher risk of heart attack then men, however, this new study that looked at the history of over 50,000 people shows that the risk is significantly higher than previously thought. Women with gout are 39% more likely to have a heart attack then women without gout. However, men only showed an 11% increase in this study.
The authors of this study speculate that this is due to men having higher levels of uric acid in their bodies throughout life than women. Women’s uric acid levels tend to stay low only to rise suddenly at menopause. As a result, it is believed that men develop more of a tolerance to the effects of high uric acid. However, the difference may also be due to the fact that women tend to receive a gout diagnosis much later then men and are often treated with different medications and at different doses. This is do to the incorrect belief, held by many primary care physicians, that gout is a “men’s disease”.
Regardless of the reason, women with gout, or even women that have passed menopause and have a family history of gout should take note. Controlling uric acid levels with medication is the best way to reduce the risk.
See also: Gout in Women
FDA Rejects New Gout Drug and Approve an Old One
Posted by Victor Konshin in Gout Treatments, New Research on August 4th, 2009
It was starting to look like 2009 was the year going banner year for new gout drugs. That all came to a holt on Sunday as the FDA rejected the application for Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s drug, Krystexxa® (also called puricase or pegloticase). This new drug used an enzyme not found in humans that breaks down uric acid in the body. To prevent the body rejecting the foreign enzyme it is “locked up” in a molecular “cage”. This cage allowed uric acid to flow in but blocks the immune system from attacking the enzyme (see, New Gout Drugs – Coming to a Pharmacy Near You).
Interestingly, the FDA did not have any complaints about the drug itself and found that the drug was safe and effective. In fact, the FDA’s advisory board voted 14 to 1 to approve the drug. However, the FDA raised concerns that the drug that was studied was created using a different manufacturing process than the drug that would be released to the public. Due to concerns that this different manufacturing process could change the safety or effectiveness of the drug, the FDA rejected the drug until the manufacturer proves that the different manufacturing method resulted in a drug that was also safe and effective.
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Yet Another Study Shows Primary Care Doctors Often Do Not Correctly Manage Gout
Posted by Victor Konshin in New Research on July 14th, 2009
Another study showing most primary care doctors do not know how to properly manage gout appeared in the journal Rheumatology International this month. This study found that only 27.5% of patients had their uric acid level measured on, at least, an annual basis. This means that doctors where unable to evaluate the effectiveness of uric acid lowering treatment, that is, if they even bothered to prescribe one.
This is another shining example of why it’s important to arm yourself with the facts on how this disease is managed. There is a lot of very bad information out there and this misinformation results in you being in pain! That’s a pretty compelling reason why you should become familiar with the proper and scientifically backed methods of managing this disease. Not to replace your doctor, but to complement his care.
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New Research: Allopurinol Can Help You Live Longer
Posted by Victor Konshin in New Research on June 29th, 2009
New research published in the medical journal, Rheumatology, has shown that lowering uric acid levels using the medication allopurinol can result in a significant decrease in the risk of death.
Recent research has shown that high levels of uric acid have been strongly associated with diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, stroke and obesity. However, little is known about the effects of lowering uric acid levels on the risk of these diseases and even less is known about whether or not lowering uric acid levels can actually extend life. This is one of the first research studies that has shown a strong correlation between lowering uric acid levels and living a longer life.
This study, that followed almost 10,000 people, showed an average reduction in uric acid levels of 1.86mg/dL (111µmol/L). This resulted in an overall reduction in the risk of death by about 22%.
Unfortunately, we do not yet understand the mechanisms by which uric acid causes disease. The current theory is that uric acid, when it reaches high levels, is constantly forming crystals in all parts of the body, not just the joints as in gout. These crystals are spotted by the immune system and spark an immune response that increases inflammation. This inflammation has been identified as a leading cause of some of the most deadly diseases mentioned above.
Hopefully, researchers will soon find proof as to exactly how uric acid causes disease. This information will is the next step in finding the best means of dealing with high uric acid levels.
In the meantime, this new research shows us that fighting gout by lowering uric acid levels is not only the best way of stopping gout attacks, but may also be helping us live a longer and healthier life.
Kidney Stones, a Gout Early Warning?
Posted by Victor Konshin in General, New Research on April 22nd, 2009
The “German Professional Association of Internists” released a statement on Monday saying that kidney stones may be an early warning sign for gout. The statement claimed that as many as 40% developed kidney stones as a first indication of gout.
This makes sense. It had been known for a long time that high levels of uric acid in the body can cause increased levels of uric acid excreted by the kidneys. This excess uric acid can form uric acid kidney stones. Not only that, but uric acid crystals can serve as a catalyst for the formation of kidney stones based on other substances such as calcium.
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New Gout Drugs – Coming Soon to a Pharmacy Near You
Posted by Victor Konshin in Gout Treatments, New Research on April 7th, 2009
On valentine’s day this year, the FDA gave all of us gout sufferer’s a special valentine’s day gift. They approved the first new gout drug in more than forty years. But the good news doesn’t end there. There are several other new gout drugs that are in development.
Febuxostat
Febuxostat is the generic name for the drug released on Valentine’s day. It will be sold on the market under the brand name Ulroic® and is the first new xanthine oxidase inhibitor to be approved since allopurinol. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are medications that block the xanthine oxidase enzyme from creating uric acid in the body and thus, lowers uric acid levels. This medication is chemically very different from allopurinol so it is hoped that people that have had allergic reactions to allopurinol will be able to take Uloric without any problems. Though there are many documented cases of people that where allergic to allopurinol that have taken febuxostat without any problems, I would still recommend caution if you have had severe reactions to allopurinol — better safe than sorry. Its best to start this medication at a very low dose and watch for any adverse reactions.
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