Role of allopurinol in the treatment of hyperuricemic patients with non alcoholic fatty liver disease

ABSTRACT

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease [NAFLD] is the most common cause of chronic liver injury, recently elevated uric acid [UA] level was found to be an important factor in the development of NAFLD so lowering the level of UA by allopurinol might play an important role in the improvement of NAFLD. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of treating hyperuricemia by allopurinol on NAFLD patients assessed by ultrasonography [U/S] and liver enzymes. 3l hyperuricemic patients suffering from NAFLD were enrolled in the study. These patients were randomly assigned into two groups; Group A [14 patients] Placebo group who received starch based placebo for 2-3 months and Group B [17 patients] Treatment group who received allopurinol for 2-3 months. Fatty liver [FL] grade and size were assessed by U/S before and after treatment; also liver enzymes [GPT , GOT] and UA were measured before and after treatment. The present study showed significant difference between GPT and GOT before and after lowering UA level [P<0.001 and P=0.013, respectively] in the treatment group while U/S parameters showed no significant difference in the FL size and grade before and after treatment [P0.208 and 0.325 respectively]. We concluded that Allopurinol can be used to improve patients with NAFLD associated with hyperuricemia as assessed by improved liver enzymes