HYPERURICEMIA DURING TREATMENT FOR ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN AMULTIRACIAL POPULATION

Objective: This retrospective study sought to compare the rise in the serum uric acid level in Saudi and non-Saudi patients during treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. Site: King Khalid University Hospital and Chest Hospital. Design: To compare 315 Saudi patients with 455 non-Sa udi patients during pyrazinamide treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: Overall, hyperuricaemia was found to occur in 81% of the 770 patients. Saudis tend to have a slightly lower incidence of excessive rise in serum uric acid (> 0.6 mmol/l). Main Outcome: No patients stu died developed significant arthritis or gout during the follow-up peri od. In the majority of patients, a spontaneous return to normal serum uric acid at the end of the initial 2-3 months of tuberculosis therapy was noted. Conclusion: It is concluded that frequent serum uric acid estimation is not justified in the absence of joint symptoms in patien ts in whom the baseline uric acid is normal during pyrazinamide or eth ambutol therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis.