Augmentation of skin flap survival with allopurinol

Although allopurinol is primarily known as an effective medication for gout, it has been shown to enhance tissue survival in a wide range of ischemic conditions. The study reported here investigated the effects of allopurinol on flap survival in a dorsal rat model. In a preliminary study, animals were given varying doses of allopurinol (0 to 400 mg per kilogram). A clinically efficacious dose was established upon conclusion of the test period by laboratory determinations and necropsy data. Other animals were divided into 3 groups: 1 (saline control), N = 11; 2 (50 mg per kilogram of allopurinol daily), N = 10; 3 (100 mg per kilogram of allopurinol qd), N = 11. Flaps were raised and necrosis assessed at 8 days. Flaps treated with allopurinol 100 mg per kilogram had significantly better survival than the controls (p less than 0.001) and 50 mg per kilogram (p less than 0.01). Allopurinol 50 mg per kilogram had no effect on flap survival.