Antiepileptic drugs reduce serum uric acid

Uric acid examination in 554 epileptic out-patients under long-term
anticonvulsant medication revealed significantly lower serum
concentrations compared to a group of normal controls. In patients
taking enzyme-inducing drugs, uric acid levels were found to be
lower than in those under valproate sodium. In addition, uric acid
concentrations showed a negative correlation with duration of
therapy in epileptic males. At this time, we can only speculate on
the mechanism involved in the reduction of uric acid by
enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants as well as on the possible
implication of this finding in the treatment of hyperuricemia.