Data presented at the 73rd annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology highlight effects of baseline characteristics on achievement of serum uric acid (sUA) levels to less than 6.0 mg/dl and the frequency of flares with Uloric (febuxostat) treatment.
Reportedly, a subset of subjects from the CONFIRMS trial who received prior urate-lowering therapy for up to five years achieved sUA less than 6.0 mg/dl more often, and had a lower rate of acute gout flares than patients who had not received prior long-term urate-lowering therapy.
The CONFIRMS trial randomized 2,269 patients with gout and sUA greater than or equal to 8.0mg/dl to receive six months of daily treatment with Uloric 40mg, 80mg or allopurinol 300mg (or 200mg if baseline estimated creatinine clearance was less than 60ml/min). Effects of BL subject characteristics on achievement of sUA less than 6.0 mg/dl at the final visit were evaluated. Results from this study showed that 45% of the Uloric 40mg group and 67% of the Uloric 80mg group achieved sUA less than 6.0 mg/dL at their final visit, compared with 42% of the allopurinol group.
In subjects with BL moderate renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance 30 to 59ml/min), Uloric 40mg resulted in a significantly higher response rate than was the case in subjects receiving allopurinol 200mg. Overall study results from the CONFIRMS trial demonstrated Uloric 80mg was superior in lowering sUA levels compared to Uloric 40mg and allopurinol 300 mg.
Michael Becker, professor of medicine, rheumatology section at The University of Chicago School of Medicine, said: ”Gout associated with hyperuricemia is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. One of the hallmarks of gout is the painful and disabling acute flare of arthritis that patients experience. The results of the Confirms trial suggest that by achieving and maintaining sUA less than 6.0mg/dl over time the risk of future gout flares can be diminished.”