Oxipurinol

Oxipurinol is an enzyme inhibitor and the primary metabolite of allopurinol, a drug used to treat gout and hyperuricemia. Oxipurinol is responsible for most of allopurinol's inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase, an enzyme involved in purine metabolism that converts hypoxanthine to xanthine, and xanthine to uric acid. By inhibiting xanthine oxidase, oxipurinol prevents the production of uric acid, thereby reducing uric acid concentrations in the body.

Pharmacology

Oxipurinol is formed from allopurinol in the body by the action of aldehyde oxidase, an enzyme involved in drug metabolism. It is primarily excreted in the urine, and its elimination half-life is significantly longer than that of allopurinol, allowing for once-daily dosing of allopurinol.

Clinical significance

Oxipurinol is responsible for the majority of allopurinol's therapeutic effect in the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia. It is also the compound responsible for allopurinol's rare but potentially serious side effect of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome, a severe drug reaction characterized by rash, fever, and internal organ involvement.

See also

• Allopurinol
• Xanthine oxidase
• Gout
• Hyperuricemia

Oxipurinol Resources
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