RESUMO
Uricosuric diuretics have been developed to counteract renal urate retention accompanying diuretic-induced extracellular volume contraction. Their intrinsic uricosuric activity would prevent diuretic-induced hyperuricemia. Ticrynafen, a prototype uricosuric diuretic, has largely fallen into disuse because of hepatic toxicity. However, one lesson learned during the short period that ticrynafen was available in the US is that the administration of a potent uricosuric agent to a patient previously trated with diuretics can precipitate acute renal failure, possibly as a consequence of uric acid nephropathy. Another novel uricosuric diuretic, indacrinone, is composed of two enantiomorphic isomers exhibiting predominantly either a uricosuric or a natriuretic action. Manipulation of the isomer ratio currently is being attempted with a view toward obtaining a combination that produces little change in the serum urate during chronic diuretic therapy. Uricosuric diuretics have the therapeutic potential to treat hypertension and edematous states without increasing the serum urate. Although current information suggests that chronic asymptomatic hyperuricemia poses very little health hazard, future data could indicate that it may be desirable to maintain the serum urate near the normal range