[Hyperuricemia and arthralgia during pyrazinamide treatment]

We studied 51 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were initially treated with pyrazinamide (PZA) at our hospital between April 1996 and December 1997. PZA dosage was less than 1.5 g per day, and the chemotherapy course lasted 2 months. Uric acid levels of higher than 8 mg/dl were observed in 44 patients (86%). Arthralgia was observed in 9 patients. Acute gout was observed in only 1 patient who had hyperuricemia prior to PZA treatment and a predisposition for gout. The other 8 patients with arthralgia had symptoms in the shoulders and knees, but no gouty pain. Arthralgia was not related to serum uric acid level and disappeared after PZA treatment was stopped. We concluded that PZA can be used for up to 2 months without the combined administration of allopurinol or benzbromarone even if hyperuricemia or arthralgia develops.