The drug allopurinol, which lowers uric acid levels, appears to
reduce blood pressure in adolescents with newly diagnosed
hypertension, according to a preliminary report in the August 27
issue of JAMA. Hypertension is commonly associated with
hyperuricemia (elevated blood level of uric acid, a by-product
of normal chemical processes in the body and found in the urine
and blood). Early research suggested uric acid had a causal role
in hypertension, but an elevation of uric acid in hypertension
could be a consequence of several factors, and hyperuricemia is
not considered a true risk factor for hypertension, according to
background information in the article. Recent studies have
challenged this belief, including evidence supporting a causal
role of uric acid in hypertension, as indicated from
experimental studies in laboratory animals. Daniel I. Feig,
M.D., Ph.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and
colleagues conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled
"crossover" trial to determine whether lowering