The adjuvant effect of allopurinol with valsartan on the treatment of essential hypertension

ABSTRACT
Background: Hyperuricemia is thought to contribute to development of hypertension, an elevation of uric acid in hypertension could be a consequence of reduced renal function, or elevated renal vascular resistance.
Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the adjuvant effect of allopurinol on blood pressure in newly diagnosed essential hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia.
Design: Double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.
Patients and methods: Sixty newly diagnosed essential hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia in private clinic were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups, group 1 was put on valsartan and allopurinol therapy, and group 2 was given valsartan and placebo therapy. Both groups were followed for four weeks duration. Blood pressure and serum uric acid levels were measured in both groups, before and after therapy.
Results: The systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed a significant reduction in group 1 with a mean difference of -24.20 2.00 mmHg, for systolic blood pressure and -16.93 4.73 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. The reduction in serum uric acid was -3.25 0.18, while the patients group that received valsartan and placebo did not show the same improvement.
Conclusion: The administration of allopurinol had beneficial effect on blood pressure, and can be used as adjunctive therapy for patients with hypertension, particularly if they have coexistent hyperuricemia..