[PHNUTR-L] Diuretic Use Linked to Recurrent Gout Attacks

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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Diuretic Use Linked to Recurrent Gout Attacks
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540806?src=mp


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 13 - Recent diuretic use more than triples 
the risk of recurrent gouty arthritis, according to a report in The 
Journal of Rheumatology for July.

A link between diuretic use and hyperuricemia was established more than 
four decades ago, lead author Dr. David J. Hunter, from Boston 
University School of Medicine, and colleagues note. However, until now, 
no studies have specifically investigated whether diuretic use actually 
raises the risk of recurrent gout attacks.

The present study involved 197 patients, recruited over the Internet, 
who had a gout attack in the past year and agreed to allow access to 
their medical records.

Eighty percent of subjects were male and most had a college education. 
The researchers focused on diuretic use in the 2 days preceding a gout 
attack.

Overall, recent diuretic use appeared to increase the risk of recurrent 
gout attacks by 3.6-fold, the report indicates. The elevated risk was 
slightly lower for thiazide diuretics -- 3.2-fold -- and slightly higher 
for loop diuretics -- 3.8-fold. However, because few patients used loop 
diuretics, the association did not reach statistical significance.

"Given the wide availability of alternative effective agents for the 
treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure, clinicians have 
ample ability to individualize management for this population, and could 
reduce risk of recurrent gout attacks by avoiding the use of thiazide 
and possibly loop diuretics in persons with preexisting gout," the 
authors conclude.

J Rheumatol 2006;33:1341-1345.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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