Allopurinol modulated serum troponin level in renal stone patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are aggravated by various factors, including chronic use of certain medications. There are worldwide reported cases of sudden strokes or myocardial infarction in previously non-ischemic patients while using medications for other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, gout, hypertension, and endocrine diseases. The mechanism is quite complicated, and the underlying causes were obscure. In line with this reported toxicity are patients with hyperuricemia on uric acid lowering therapy. The goal of the present investigation was to assess the cardiotoxic effect of allopurinol based on the levels of troponin that were quantified by fully automated COBAS technique in apparently healthy renal stone patients. To do so, serum samples were collected from these patients at baseline (before starting allopurinol therapy), and at the end of the course of the therapy. The troponin level was significantly elevated after allopurinol therapy compared to baseline. The study concluded that allopurinol could have a significant cardiotoxic effect in heart tissues and should be used cautiously in patients with pre-existing ischemic cardiac diseases.