Effects of captopril and amlodipine on serum uric acid in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients

Objective: To investigate the effects of two well known antihypertensive drugs captopril and amlodipine on serum uric acid level in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients. Methods: One hundred hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients were divided into two groups, with 50 patients in each group. Group 1 was given captopril and group 2 amlodipine. A control group was included. Blood pressure and uric acid level were measured before and after drug administration. Results: A significantly higher levels of uric acid were found in the diabetic hypertensive patients as compared with control group. A significant drop of uric acid was noted after treatment with both captopril and amlodipine. Reduction of uric acid after therapy with captopril (49.9±30.34) and amlodipine (31.4±30.1) showed significant difference (P<0.005). Conclusions: This study demonstrates significantly higher serum uric acid concentrations in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients. Both captopril and amlodipine therapy produced a fall in serum uric acid level. They can be useful therapeutic agents to control blood pressure and to reduce serum uric acid level in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients with hyperuricaemia. (Rawal Med J 2008;33:50-53).