Hyperuricemia And Arthralgia During Pyrazinamide Therapy With Antituberculosis Regimens Containing Rifampicin Or Ethambutol

Weekly serum uric acid concentrations were estimated in 118 patients on various pyrazinamide (PZA) regimens and in 70 patients on non-pyrazinamide regimens. Hyperuricemia was encountered in 45 per cent at the end of first week, 72 percent by end of second week, and 79 per cent by end of fourth week in patients taking pyrazinamide and in none of the patients on non-pyrazinamide regimens except two on streptomycin, isoniazid and ethambutol (SHE) regimen. There was a continuous rise in serum uric acid levels throughout the four weeks observation period; however, the maximum increase was observed during first week. Though statistically highly significant (P<0.001), elevations in uric acid levels caused by ethambutol were of smaller magnitude as compared to pyrazinamide, it only marginally raised the a low incidence being observed in those on rifampicin containing regimens.