First New Treatment in More Than 40 Years Available for Hyperuricemia in Patients with Gout
By Jessica at 14 May, 2009, 6:24 pm
(ARA) – An estimated 5.1 million Americans suffer from gout, the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men over age 40. For these sufferers, a new medicine is now available to help treat an underlying condition of gout. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ULORIC(R) (febuxostat) 40-mg and 80-mg tablets, a once-daily oral medication for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout. ULORIC is the first new treatment for this condition in more than 40 years and may provide patients and physicians with another option to meet medical needs.
“Gout is a chronic condition that requires long-term management with a doctor, not just at the time of a painful flare,” says Dr. Zorba Paster, clinical professor, department of family medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison. “With anti-hyperuricemic therapy, like ULORIC, patients can help decrease uric acid levels in the blood and manage their hyperuricemia, which is one of the underlying causes of gout.”
Hyperuricemia is a condition in which uric acid levels become elevated in the blood. Uric acid is an end-product created when the body metabolizes substances called purines, which are part of all human tissue and many foods, such as shellfish, meats, beans and alcoholic beverages. When too much uric acid builds up in the blood, needle-like crystals of uric acid can form and collect in the joints and/or soft tissue.
As the disease progresses, people with gout may develop large deposits of crystallized uric acid visible under the skin, known as tophi. Approximately 90 percent of all patients experience gout in their big toe at some point during the course of their disease. However, gout can occur in other parts of the body, including, but not limited to, insteps, ankles, knees, heels, wrists, elbows and fingers.
ULORIC can help lower and maintain serum uric acid levels to less than 6 mg/dL, which experts recognize is a target level in the treatment of chronic gout. It is important to speak with your healthcare professional about various treatment options and any lifestyle modifications necessary for managing your uric acid levels and gout.
Learn more about gout and hyperuricemia by visiting www.gout.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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