Hyperuricaemia induced by ethambutol.

Seventy patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 12 healthy controls were included in a study to observe the effect of ethambutol on serum uric acid level. In ethambutol-treated cases a statistically significant increase in mean serum uric acid levels was observed in the second, third and fourth week of treatment. This increase was independent of dosage of ethambutol. However, 22 of the 52 (42%) ethambutol-treated cases showed no increase. Streptomycin was found not to potentiate the hyperuricaemic action of ethambutol. Hyperuricaemia due to ethambutol was reversed with probenicid but not by salicylates. No patient developed acute gouty arthritis although two developed arthralgia.