Records of adult patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed
hematologic malignancies who received
febuxostat within 7 days before initiation of
chemotherapy were retrieved retrospectively at a single institute. The changes in serum
uric acid levels from before and 7 days after initiation of
febuxostat were evaluated and compared with the historical control group of patients who received
allopurinol. We also evaluated non-hematological adverse events during the study period.
RESULTS: A total of 78 patients' records were analyzed, 38 in the
febuxostat group and 39 in the
allopurinol group. There were no significant differences in the incidence of treatment failure, defined as development of clinical TLS or receiving
rasburicase, between the
febuxostat and
allopurinol group (5.2% vs 5.1%, P>0.99). The mean serum
uric acid levels were significantly decreased, compared to the baseline (5.6 ± 2.1 mg/dL), at 7 days after initiation of
febuxostat (3.1 ± 1.5 mg/dL, last observation carried forward, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the percent change in the serum
uric acid levels between the 40 mg/day
febuxostat and the 300 mg/day
allopurinol groups (P = 0.57). Grade 3-4
liver dysfunctions were observed in both the
febuxostat and
allopurinol groups, without significant differences in incidence between the two groups (2.6% vs 5.1%, P>0.99). Neither
gout flare nor
skin rash occurred in any patients.
CONCLUSIONS: