Approach to the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Despite a sound understanding of the synthetic and metabolic pathways that control serum uric acid levels, clinicians have been limited to a few urate lowering agents and one urate synthesis inhibitor since the development of allopurinol in 1956. Febuxostat (Uloric) became the second urate synthesis inhibitor when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in early 2009. The role of febuxostat in the management of hyperuricemia and gout remains to be fully determined. This review will discuss the traditional agents used for the lowering of serum uric acid and address the potential benefits febuxostat may offer in clinical practice.