Elevated serum uric acid levels during treatment with antihypertensive drugs.

An increase in serum uric acid levels has been observed both during treatment with diuretics and beta-blockers. The increase during treatment with beta-blockers seems in most cases to be of no clinical importance and is not a reason for serum uric acid determinations of subjects who have no symptoms indicating hyperuricaemia. During treatment with diuretics in those doses which have been commonly used previously, e.g. hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone greater than or equal to 50 mg/d, an increase on an average of about 90 mumol/l is to be expected. When low-dose diuretics are used (e.g. hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone less than or equal to 25 mg/d) about half of this increase might be anticipated. It is recommended that serum uric acid levels should be studied after starting antihypertensive treatment with diuretics.