Effect of cimetidine on serum uric acid concentration

The effect of cimetidine therapy on serum uric acid concentration was studied in four healthy men with normal renal function. Beginning four days before the 16-day study, subjects were permitted no beverages containing caffeine or alcohol and no medications and were placed on a weight-maintenance, isocaloric, purine-free 152-meq-sodium diet. On days 1-12 one cimetidine 300-mg tablet was taken four times daily; on days 13-16 no cimetidine was taken. On each study day, serum uric acid and creatinine and urine uric acid and creatinine concentrations were determined. Daily mean values for serum uric acid, total uric acid excreted, and uric acid clearance were not significantly different from baseline. No significant change occurred in creatinine excreted or creatinine clearance. Cimetidine administration to healthy men with normal renal function did not significantly affect serum uric acid concentration or renal clearance of urate.