• Mary Barna Bridgeman and Benjamin Chavez.
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration , 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 , USA +1 848 445 6815 ; +1 732 445 2533 ; mary.bridgeman@pharmacy.rutgers.edu.
• Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2015 Feb 1; 16 (3): 395-8.

IntroductionGout is a rheumatologic condition associated with elevated serum uric acid levels and deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and soft tissues. The xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, has historically been the principle agent utilized for reducing elevated uric acid levels and treating underlying cause of gout symptoms; the availability of febuxostat, a newer non-purine selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor, represents an alternative therapy for those patients with contraindications or intolerance to allopurinol.Areas CoveredThis article reviews the published literature on the pharmacologic characteristics and clinical safety and efficacy data on the use of febuxostat in the treatment of gout. A literature search of MEDLINE and MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations Databases (1996-November 2014) was conducted utilizing the key words 'febuxostat', 'allopurinol', and 'gout'. All published articles regarding febuxostat were evaluated. References of selected articles, data from poster presentations, and abstract publications were additionally reviewed.Expert OpinionFebuxostat has shown benefit with respect to symptomatic relief and uric acid level reduction. The safety profile of this agent makes it an ideal alternative in those patients with contraindications to or who are intolerant of allopurinol.

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