RCT: High-dose allopurinol reduces left ventricular mass in patients with ischaemic heart disease

Source: J Am Coll Cardiol Area: News Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common in patients with IHD including normotensive patients. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has been shown to reduce LV afterload in IHD and may therefore also regress LVH. This randomised placebo-controlled study sought to ascertain if high-dose allopurinol regresses left ventricular mass (LVM) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Sixty six patients with IHD and LVH were randomised to either 600mg allopurinol daily or placebo for 9 months. The primary outcome measure was change in LVM, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).   The authors reported that compared to placebo, allopurinol significantly reduced LVM (allopurinol ?5.2 ± 5.8g vs. placebo ?1.3 ± 4.48g; p = 0.007) and LVM index (LVMI) (allopurinol ?2.2 ± 2.78g/m2 vs. placebo ?0.53 ± 2.5g/m2; p = 0.023). The absolute mean difference between groups for change in LVM and LVMI was ?3.89g (95% confidence interval: ?1.1 to ?6.7) and ?1.67g/m2 (95% ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Source Type: news