THE EFFECT OF HYPERURICEMIA AND ALLOPURINOL ON OUTCOME OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

OBJECTİVE: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) may have increased serum uric acid (SUA) level due to presence of existing greft dysfunction and used immunosuppressives. In this retrospective study, we evaluated effect of high SUA levels and allopurinol therapy in KTRs on renal functions. PATIENTS and METHODS: 113 KTRs of 233 KTRs included, had elevated SUA level (G1). Fiftyseven of G1 received allopurinol treatment (G1A+) and 56 patients (G1A-) did not. 56 of 118 patients who were followed for five years (G5) were hyperuricemic (G5-1) and 26 of G5-1 treated with allopurinol (G5-1A+) and 30 of them did not (G5-1A-). 62 patients were normourisemic (G5-2). RESULTS: Of the 233 patients included the mean age was 42.8±11.6 (17-76), 164 were male (70.0%). In 2. year graft loss developed in 9 (7.5 %) and 18 (15.9%) of G2 and G1 respectively (p = 0.045). According to allopurinol therapy 10 of the graft loss occurred in the G1A+ and 8 in the G1A- (p=0,330). Graft loss occurred in 12 (21%) and 9 (14%) in G5-1 and G5-2 respectively (p = 0.62). Graft loss occurred in 7 (23 %) and 5 (19%) in G5-1A+ and G5-1A- respectively P = 0.71). Considering the first 2 in G5; in G5-1 graft loss was higher than in the G5-2 (p = 0.023), and higher SUA levels increased the graft loss by 3.6 times compared to normal SUA levels (95% confidence interval: 1,2-12.70). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between high SUA levels and graf loss in kidney transplant recipients in 2 years and 5 years. Treatment of high SUA with alIopurinol therapy had protective effect on renal functions. So that hyperuricemia should be treated and low dose allopurinol can be option for treatment of hyperuricemia therefore prevention of loss of kidney function in kidney transplant recipients.