Benzbromarone therapy in hyperuricaemia; comparison with allopurinol and probenecid.

The purpose of this study was to compare the serum uric acid lowering effect of benzbromarone (Minuric), allopurinol, probenecid and placebo in patients suffering from confirmed hyperuricaemia. This was a multiple dose, placebo-controlled, crossover study in six hyperuricaemic patients to compare the effects on uric acid of three different active treatments: benzbromarone 100 mg daily, probenecid 1000 mg daily and allopurinol 300 mg daily. Each patient was assessed clinically and biochemically before and after the study and blood samples for serum uric acid determinations were taken thirteen times during the study period. For the six trialists it was found that benzbromarone is superior to both probenecid and allopurinol in the lowering of serum uric acid, and that probenecid is also superior to allopurinol.