Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Significantly Affect Probenecid Activity

January 5, 2001

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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jan 04 - Despite concerns about the use of

low-dose daily aspirin in patients taking probenecid for gouty arthritis,

concurrent aspirin does not appear to significantly affect serum uric acid or

urinary urate excretion, according to the results of a small study appearing in

the December issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.

Dr. Mark D. and colleagues, from Wilford Hall US Air Force Medical

Center, Lackland AFB, in San , based their conclusions on a study of nine

men and two women with gouty arthritis who had been taking a stable dose of

probenecid for at least 3 months.

During the first 14 days of this prospective crossover study, patients took 325

mg enteric coated aspirin concurrently with probenecid each morning. On days 15

to 28, the participants took the same aspirin dose 6 hours after their dose of

probenecid.

At baseline and on days 14 and 28, the researchers measured 24-hour urine uric

acid excretion and serum uric acid. Serum salicylate levels were measured on

days 14 and 28.

Dr. and colleagues report that the measurements of serum uric acid levels

and total urinary uric acid excretion at baseline and at 14 and 28 days did not

vary significantly. When the researchers compared the two aspirin regimens

separately, however, they observed that taking aspirin 6 hours after probenecid

did enhance urinary urate excretion.

Salicylate levels were undetectable in 8 of 11 participants at day 14 and in 10

of 11 patients at day 28, according to the report.

" Given the significant increased prevalence of coronary artery disease in the

gouty population, we believe that the benefits of low-dose daily aspirin for

patients receiving probenecid seem to outweigh any risks and do not inhibit the

uricosuric effects of probenecid, " the authors conclude.

In patients for whom aspirin worsens hyperuricemia, " giving the aspirin

separately from probenecid may overcome any potential inhibition of

probenecid-induced uricosuria, " Dr. 's group concludes.

J Rheumatol 2000;27:2873-2876.

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