The role of xanthine oxidase in hyperuricemic states

Abstract

Abstract The behavior of xanthine oxidase in the jejunal mucosa of patients with gout and in the liver of normal subjects during secondary drug‐induced hyperuricemia was studied. Xanthine oxidase activity was not increased significantly in the jejunal mucosa of patients with gout, whereas an RNA, hypoxanthine, EA‐TDA, or fructose load in normal subjects caused liver xanthine oxidase levels to rise to values that were two‐ to fourfold higher than those for the control group. The results indicated that previously reported increases in liver xanthine oxidase levels in patients with gout, who were overexcretors, were neither primary nor genetically determined but were related to increased production of the enzyme.