Effects of febuxostat on serum cytokines IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and COX-2

Effects of febuxostat on serum cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in patients with gout were investigated. A total of 80 patients with gout admitted and treated in the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from January 2015 to September 2017 were selected and divided into two groups by virtue of a random number table, with 40 patients in each group. All the enrolled patients received strict gout diet adjustment and took colchicine at the same time. Patients in the control group were additionally treated with allopurinol, while those in the the observation group were administered with febuxostat. The serum uric acid levels were compared between the two groups. The number of gout attacks and adverse reactions were recorded, and the variations in COX-2 positive value integral were clarified. At different time-points of observation, the serum uric acid levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, at 3 months after treatment, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum in the observation group were decreased compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). The IL-1 and TNF-α levels were lower in the observation group at 1 week, 1 and 3 months after treatment compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, it was discovered that at 3 months after treatment, the COX-2 positive value integral in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (p<0.05). During follow-up, the number of gout attacks that needed medical intervention in the observation group was smaller than that in the control group (p<0.05). Compared with allopurinol therapy, febuxostat therapy can remarkably inhibit inflammatory responses in the body, relieve clinical symptoms and reduce relapse of the patients with gout.