How does allopurinol help treat gout?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Gleevec; imatinib — drug Docking of the anticancer drug Gleevec (imatinib) in the abl domain of the bcr-abl tyrosine kinase. Abnormalities in bcr-abl stimulate the continuous proliferation of bone marrow stem cells, causing an increase in myelogenous cells (granulocytes and macrophages) in the body and leading to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

Allopurinol is a drug used to treat gout by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for the production of uric acid.1

In individuals with gout, excess uric acid in the blood forms solid deposits in joints and tissues, leading to severe inflammation. By reducing the body's overall production of uric acid, allopurinol helps the body resorb these existing deposits, which improves joint function.1

Unlike some other treatments, allopurinol is often preferred for chronic cases because it decreases the amount of uric acid excreted in the urine, thereby reducing the risk of developing kidney stones. Treatment is typically long-term or indefinite.1