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ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY: A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING REACTION
Author(s) -
Vinciullo Carl
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1984.tb00628.x
Subject(s) - allopurinol , medicine , gout , asymptomatic , concomitant , hypersensitivity reaction , drug , intensive care medicine , dermatology , surgery , pharmacology
S ummary Allopurinol is a frequently used drug for the treatment of gout and hyperuricaemia. It has been estimated that as many as 60% of patients receive the drug for asymptomatic hyperuricaemia. Often little thought is given to the patient's renal function, the correct dosage of allopurinol or to the concomitant use of other drugs, e.g. thiazides. Approximately 10% of patients develop a mild reaction of a cutaneous or gastrointestinal nature. Severe life‐threatening hypersensitivity reactions can and do occur, as will be described in an illustrative case report. Details of the different reactions of a cutaneous or other type are given and treatment and recommendations for allopurinol use are discussed.