A pan-European study of 755 gout patients found that prevalence of self-reported gout was highest in the UK (2.2%) and lowest in France (0.76%). French, German and British gout patients all had lower quality of life scores, and had significant work and social impairment compared to controls (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Interestingly, patients in these countries also had more hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure and renal disease (p=0.05) compared to healthy controls.

Abstract Number: FRI0275-HP

Phase III study demonstrates long term efficacy and safety of pegloticase (Krystexxa)

Results of an American study show that 42% of patients treated with pegloticase (8mg every 2 weeks) achieved normal sUA after six months of treatment and of those patients who elected to continue in an open label extension 84% were able to be safely and effectively treated long term (> 2 years). Conclusions from an analysis of these responder patients suggests that subjects who have normalised their sUA after six months on pegloticase (8 mg every 2 weeks) may be able to experience a gap in therapy for as long as 167 days without losing subsequent responsiveness to treatment.

The analysis of data from a 26-week randomised controlled trial (RCT), followed by a 30-month open-label extension (OLE) showed that 90% of these responder patients had complete resolution of tophi at 50 weeks. There were clinically relevant significant reductions in the number of gout flares, tender and swollen joints and improvements in patient-reported outcomes, including pain, physical function and quality of life. There were no remarkable safety concerns with these persistent responders.

Abstract Number: OP0113

Lesinurad and allopurinol combination more effective than allopurinol alone

Researchers from Western and Eastern Europe, Canada, Spain and the USA studied the efficacy and safety of combination treatment with lesinurad and allopurinol in 208 allopurinol-refractory gout patients and found in an intent-to-treat analysis that up to 79% of patients receiving the combination responded to treatment (sUA <6 mg/dL) compared to 25% on allopurinol, the current standard of care, plus placebo.

After four weeks, patients receiving the combination treatment showed up to a 30% reduction in sUA from baseline (allopurinol alone) compared to a 3% increase in sUA for the patients in the allopurinol plus placebo group, and adverse events (AEs) were comparable between groups.

Abstract Number: OP0111

Drinking four or more sugar sweetened beverages increases gout risk four-fold

A study from New Zealand examined the association between gout and sugar-sweetened beverages (including soft-drinks and fruit juices), primarily sweetened with sucrose, in 1,386 people from various ethnic groups.

The results of the study showed that, similar to an association found in US study participants, consuming four or more sugar-sweetened beverages (defined as one can or large glass) was associated with an up to four-fold increase in developing gout across ethnicities. Authors suggest that the association could be due to the effect of fructose on sUA concentrations, through the production of adenosine monophosphate (a nucleotide in RNA) which is converted into uric acid.

Abstract Number: THU0003

Source:
Rory Berrie
European League Against Rheumatism