Febuxostat improves endothelial function in hemodialysis patients with hyperuricemia: A randomized controlled study

AbstractEndothelial dysfunction is often found in both hyperuricemia and hemodialysis patients. Recent studies have shown that treating hyperuricemia with allopurinol improves endothelial dysfunction. This study is performed to assess the effect of febuxostat on endothelial dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with hyperuricemia. We randomly assigned 53 hemodialysis patients with hyperuricemia to a febuxostat (10 mg daily) group and a control group and measured flow‐mediated dilation, serum uric acid (UA) levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, malondialdehyde‐modified low‐density lipoprotein (MDA‐LDL), and highly sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) at baseline and at the end of a 4‐week study period. Flow‐mediated dilation increased from 5.3% ± 2.4% to 8.9% ± 3.6% in the febuxostat group but did not change significantly in the control group. Treatment with febuxostat resulted in a significant decrease in serum UA level and a significant decrease in MDA‐LDL compared with baseline, but no significant difference was observed in hsCRP level or blood pressure. No significant differences were observed in the control group. Febuxostat improved endothelial dysfunction and reduced serum UA levels and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients with hyperuricemia.