Rasburicase for gout – pro
Rasburicase is indicated for use in the pediatric population for the management of elevated uric acid in patients who are receiving chemotherapy. Its role in the management of gout-associated hyperuricemia remains unclear, with only a few case reports of patients with gout refractory to traditional therapy demonstrating regression of tophi after treatment with rasburicase. It is generally assumed, but unconfirmed, that recurrent administration of rasburicase for gout treatment would be likely to produce greater immunogenicity, which is an argument against giving doses on a regular basis. To my knowledge, there are no further studies planned to explore the role of rasburicase in gout management, given the success rates of other uricase agents.
Ueng S. Rasburicase (Elitek): a novel agent for tumor lysis syndrome. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2005;18(3):275279. doi:10.1080/08998280.2005.11928082
Bruno VogtUrate oxidase (rasburicase) for treatment of severe tophaceous gout Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 20, Issue 2, February 2005, Pages 431433,
Azza Hussein, Michelle Hui et al, Rasburicase in gout complicated by methaemoglobinaemia. Rheumatology, Volume 57, Issue suppl_3, April 2018,