Allopurinol Lowers Blood Pressure in Mild Hypertension

Lowering elevated serum uric acid levels might treat hypertension in adolescents.

Serum uric acid (UA) is known to be elevated in adolescents with hypertension, but only recently have results from animal studies suggested a causal relation. Investigators performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study to determine whether lowering serum UA levels with allopurinol (200 mg twice daily for 4 weeks) reduces blood pressure (BP) in children with stage 1 hypertension (BP >95th percentile and <99th percentile + 5 mm Hg) and serum UA levels ≥6.0 mg/dL.

Of 30 children (age range, 11–17 years), 73% were overweight or obese. Allopurinol treatment resulted in significant reductions in serum UA concentrations, in casual systolic BP (mean reduction, 6.9 mm Hg) and diastolic BP (mean reduction, 5.1 mm Hg), and in…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)