Hypouricaemia and proximal renal tubular dysfunction in acute myeloid leukaemia

Two patients with acute myeloid leukaemia developed hypouricaemia during the period of their illness. Renal clearance studies showed that the hypouricaemia was associated with an increased urate clearance, renal aminoaciduria, and an episodic increase in phosphate clearance. These findings together with an inadequate suppression of urinary urate exceretion after the administration of pyrazinamide suggest proximal tubular dysfunction affecting reabsorption of a wide variety of substances. Ten more patients with acute leukaemia were studied and the results indicate that this lesion develops in a large proportion of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.