The Excited-UA study would provide novel evidence for the clinical relevancy of xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor treatment in patients with chronic heart failure and hyperuricemia.
Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that both high and low XOR activities were significantly associated with cardiac events in patients with CHF after adjustment for confounding risk factors including serum UA and loop diuretic use.
In animal models and clinical studies, inhibition of XOR has resulted in diminution of symptoms and enhancement of function in a number of pathologies including heart failure, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, hypertension and ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Attention to the broader range of XOR bioactivity in the cardiovascular system has prompted initiation of several randomised clinical outcome trials, particularly for congestive heart failure.