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Safety and efficacy of immediate versus delayed allopurinol treatment for the prevention of gout flares in pacific, maori and other people

Immediate versus delayed for two weeks allopurinol treatment for the prevention of gout flares in pacific people, maori and other people with outcomes at 6 weeks of pain and at 13 weeks of pain and uric acid serum levels.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12612001188820
Acronym
Nil
Enrollment
200
Registered
2012-11-12
Start date
2012-09-12
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The study will conduct a clinical trial comparing the starting of allopurinol in an acute attack with a two week delay to see if there are any differences in pain, likelihood of staying on allopurinol and getting to their recommended blood urate levels. Once achieved acute attacks of gout are extremely unlikely and patients will no longer need to have pain and loss of work. Our study is one of the top priorities of the EULAR group (European Union League against Rheumatism). A randomised controlled trial is the best way to evaluate an intervention and this will be the first trial to be started in the world.

Interventions

This study will enrol 200 participants with gout. Subjects will be randomized to one of two treatments lasting three months: 1. Intervention groups: Immediate opon presentation of an acute flare oral allopurinol given at a dosage depending on the participant’s kidney function level (calculated at 1.5mg/unit eGFR) (maximum dose 150 mg daily) will be given for 10 weeks and then doubled for the next 4 weeks. . Also for the control of acute attacks Prednisone will be given as following: 40mg of pre

This study will enrol 200 participants with gout. Subjects will be randomized to one of two treatments lasting three months: 1. Intervention groups: Immediate opon presentation of an acute flare oral allopurinol given at a dosage depending on the participant’s kidney function level (calculated at 1.5mg/unit eGFR) (maximum dose 150 mg daily) will be given for 10 weeks and then doubled for the next 4 weeks. . Also for the control of acute attacks Prednisone will be given as following: 40mg of prednisone for four days and 20 mg for four days followed by 10mg for three days and 5mg for three days. All together Prednisone will be given for 14 days starting on day 1. 500 micrograms of colchicine will be given twice daily to prevent flares for three and a half months from the start of the study. All medications are in a tablet form.

Sponsors

Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Auckland
Lead SponsorUniversity

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Participants will be adults from 18-75 years old.Speak sufficient English (or have an interpreter). Have had an attack in the same joint on at least one previous occasion and been seen by a doctor who made the diagnosis of gout using the American College of Rheumatologists (ACR) Criterion. Can understand the study information sheet to enable them to sign the ethics form (which will be in English, Samoan and Tongan). Pain level > 3 on the self reported Visual Analogue Scale (Likert Scale) as per participant’s self reporting. We will record the patient's ethnicity but not their nationality

Exclusion criteria

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Imminent Renal Failure (on dialysis). Terminal health condition. Congestive heart failure other than with the direct involvement of their GP. Random blood sugar > 15 mmol/L. Blood pressure < 100 mmHg Hg systolic, pulse > 100, temperature > 37.0. Total inability to move the affected joint due to pain. Steroid/colchicine use within the previous week. Already taking allopurinol. Development of a skin rash when taking allopurinol. Pregnant now or planning a pregnancy soon (in 2-3 months)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026