Objective:To compare the efficacy of low-dose febuxostat and low-dose benzbromarone in lowering serum uric acid and their impact on liver function in male patients with renal underexcretion gout.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled 303 patients with renal underexcretion gout and normal baseline liver function. Participants were assigned to either the low-dose febuxostat group(20 mg qd) or the low-dose benzbromarone group(25 mg qd). A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the uric acid target achievement rate(<360 μmol/L) and changes in liver enzyme levels between the two groups.Results:At week 4, the proportion of patients achieving the serum uric acid target(<360 μmol/L) was significantly higher in the benzbromarone group than that in the febuxostat group(64.2% vs 42.3%, P<0.001), with a trend toward greater efficacy at weeks 8 and 12. The incidence of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase(AST) elevation above the upper limit was significantly higher in the febuxostat group compared to the benzbromarone group(35.2% vs 13.85%, P<0.001). After adjusting for baseline liver enzyme levels in the mixed-effects model, mean ALT and AST levels remained significantly higher in the febuxostat group than those in the benzbromarone group at weeks 4, 8, and 12( P<0.05). In the febuxostat group, ALT and AST levels significantly increased over time during weeks 0-4 and 4-8 ( P<0.001), peaking at week 8 followed by a decreasing trend. By week 12, the levels were not significantly different from baseline ( P>0.05). Whereas there was no significant difference at each follow-up time point in the benzbromarone group( P>0.05). Conclusions:In male patients with renal underexcretion gout, low-dose benzbromarone demonstrated superior urate-lowering efficacy and better hepatic safety compared to low-dose febuxostat.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of low-dose febuxostat and low-dose benzbromarone in lowering serum uric acid and their impact on liver function in male patients with renal underexcretion gout.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled 303 patients with renal underexcretion gout and normal baseline liver function. Participants were assigned to either the low-dose febuxostat group(20 mg qd) or the low-dose benzbromarone group(25 mg qd). A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the uric acid target achievement rate(<360 μmol/L) and changes in liver enzyme levels between the two groups.Results:At week 4, the proportion of patients achieving the serum uric acid target(<360 μmol/L) was significantly higher in the benzbromarone group than that in the febuxostat group(64.2% vs 42.3%, P<0.001), with a trend toward greater efficacy at weeks 8 and 12. The incidence of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase(AST) elevation above the upper limit was significantly higher in the febuxostat group compared to the benzbromarone group(35.2% vs 13.85%, P<0.001). After adjusting for baseline liver enzyme levels in the mixed-effects model, mean ALT and AST levels remained significantly higher in the febuxostat group than those in the benzbromarone group at weeks 4, 8, and 12( P<0.05). In the febuxostat group, ALT and AST levels significantly increased over time during weeks 0-4 and 4-8 ( P<0.001), peaking at week 8 followed by a decreasing trend. By week 12, the levels were not significantly different from baseline ( P>0.05). Whereas there was no significant difference at each follow-up time point in the benzbromarone group( P>0.05). Conclusions:In male patients with renal underexcretion gout, low-dose benzbromarone demonstrated superior urate-lowering efficacy and better hepatic safety compared to low-dose febuxostat.