prevention
Last reviewed 01/2018
Measures to prevent the formation of urate crystals include:
- high fluid intake - maintenance of urine output above 2 litres per day may be adequate in mild uricosuria i.e. urine uric acid excretion of less than 4 mmol per day
- urinary alkalinisation - promotes uric acid solubility
- xanthine oxidase inhibitors e.g. allopurinol 100-200 mg tds - should be commenced 5 days prior to, and continued during, treatment with radiotherapy or cytotoxic drugs; it enables the excretion of the soluble compound hypoxanthine in preference to uric acid