Mechanism and use strategy of uric acid-lowering drugs on coronary heart disease

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a serious cardiovascular illness, for which an elevated uric acid (UA) level presents as a considerable risk factor. This can be treated with UA-lowering drugs such as allopurinol and benzbromarone, which can reduce UA levels by the inhibition of UA production or by promoting its excretion. Such drugs can also be beneficial to CHD in other ways, such as reducing the degree of coronary arteriosclerosis, improving myocardial blood supply and alleviating ventricular remodeling. Different UA-lowering drugs are used in different ways: allopurinol is preferred as a single agent in clinical application, but in absence of the desired response, a combination of drugs such as benzbromarone with ACE inhibitors may be used. Patients must be monitored regularly to adjust the medication regimen. Appropriate use of UA-lowering drugs has great significance for the prevention and treatment of CHD. However, the specific mechanisms of the drugs and individualized drug use need further research. This review article expounds the mechanisms of UA-lowering drugs on CHD and their clinical application strategy, thereby providing a reference for further optimization of treatment.

Keywords

• Coronary heart disease
• Uric acid
• Uric acid-lowering drugs
• Allopurinol
• Coronary arteriosclerosis