Ethambutol-induced hyperuricaemia

A prospective study involving 134 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted to determine the incidence and severity of ethambutol-induced hyperuricaemia. The cases were randomly allocated to two groups: one group (71 cases) received ethambutol (20 mg/kg bodyweight/day) streptomycin and isoniazid (SHE), the other group (60 cases) received streptomycin, isoniazid and thioacetazone (SHT). All the cases were hospitalized. A significant rise in serum uric acid levels was found in 66% of SHE patients during the first 60-90 days of treatment, but there was no such change in the SHT patients. In one patient who received ethambutol generalized arthralgia developed and in another acute gouty arthritis was observed. In both cases, symptoms abated when ethambutol was withdrawn and reappeared when it was resumed.