Febuxostat may reduce gout flares – recent trial

A drug called febuxostat reduced gout flares in a study of 314 adults with early gout, experts report in Arthritis & Rheumatology. The drug also reduced synovitis (which is inflammation of the joint lining) over a two-year period compared with placebo.

“Current clinical practice guidelines do not recommend routine use of urate-lowering therapy for people after the first gout flare,” explains lead author Dr Nicola Dalbeth. “This study indicates that even for people who have had only one or two prior gout flares, urate-lowering therapy to reduce serum urate below 6mg/dL may have benefit in reducing future flares.”

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