01680nas a2200205 4500000000100000008004100001100001400042700001300056700001300069700001600082700001400098700001500112700001900127245007400146250001500220300001200235490000600247520117500253020004601428 2011 d1 aHawley C.1 aBadve S.1 aBrown F.1 aKanellis J.1 aRangan G.1 aJohnson D.1 aPerkovic Vlado00aChallenges of conducting a trial of uric-acid-lowering therapy in CKD a2011/02/16 a295-3000 v73 a

Observational studies have shown that asymptomatic hyperuricemia is associated with increased risks of hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Whether these factors represent cause, consequence or incidental associations, however, remains uncertain. Hyperuricemia could be a consequence of impaired kidney function, diuretic therapy or oxidative stress, such that elevated serum urate level represents a marker, rather than a cause, of CKD. On the other hand, small, short-term, single-center studies have shown improvements in blood-pressure control and slowing of CKD progression following serum urate lowering with allopurinol. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial is required to determine whether uric-acid-lowering therapy slows the progression of CKD. This article discusses the rationale for and the feasibility of such a trial. International collaboration is required to plan and conduct a large-scale multicenter trial in order to better inform clinical practice and public health policy about the optimal management of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in patients with CKD.

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