Effect of drug-induced hyperuricaemia on renal function in Nigerians with pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Some anti-tuberculosis chemotherapeutic agents have been established as causing hyperuricaemia. Hyperuricaemia in turn causes renal damage. This study therefore aims at esatablishing the effect of anti-tuberculosis drugs-induced hyperuricaemia on renal function of the patients. Fifty patients with newly diagnose d pulmonary tuberculosis with mean age of 36.8 years (S D 13.69) consisting of 14 female s and 17 males were longitudinally studied each for 6 months to determine the effect of drug-induced hyperuricaemia on their renal function. The Biochemical indices determine d included serum urate level, serum creatinine level, and creatinine clearance of newly diagnose d patient with tuberculosis, before and during treatment with anti-tuberculosis therapy. Serum urate level revealed that 16(51.6%) a n d 15 (48.4%) of the patients were hyperuricaemic at the end of the first and second months of anti-tuberculosis therapy There was no significant difference in the mean serum creatinine level of the control group 9 6 ^mol/ L when compared with both the pre-treat value 89fimol/ L (P> 0.25) as well as the value at the end of the sixth month of treatment 91 umol/L (P > 0.40). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean creatinine clearance of the control group 102ml/min/1.73m2 when compare d with the patient's mean pre-treatment value (8 9 ml/min/ l .73m2) P< 0.05. Als o the mean creatinine clearance increase d to (10 3 ml/min / 1.73m) by the end o f t h e 6th month of treatment, a value, that is statistically significant when compared with the pre-treatment value of (89 ml/min/1.73m2) P< 0.05. We submit as follows; that pulmonary tuberculosis as a disease with significant impairment of renal function; despite the associated drug-induced hyperuricaemia recorded during the treatment, renal function steadily improve d with the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis to the extent that comparable values with control was obtained at the end of treatment. We conclude therefore that drug-induced hyperuricaemia associated with treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis has no detectable negative effect on renal function of the patient.