Slow recruitment

The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence rate of gout flare for subjects with gout and hyperuricemia treated by two different starting doses of febuxostat.

A prospective randomized open-label study comparing dose titration group (stepwise dose titration of febuxostat and low-dose colchicine) and standard treatment group (fixed dose febuxostat and low-dose colchicine) in the subjects with gout and hyperuricemia. The incidence rate of gout flare will be compared between two groups during the first 12 week of febuxostat treatment.

Ages Eligible for Study: more than 20 years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Hyperuricemia (serum urate ≥7.0 mg/dL and gout by 1977 American College of Rheumatology Criteria
2. Acute gout attack during the last 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Acute gout attack in the last 2 weeks
2. Urate-lowering therapy in the last 4 weeks
3. Secondary hyperuricemia
4. Creatinine ≥2.0 mg/dL
5. AST or ALT ≥2x upper limits of normal
6. Heart failure (NYHA III-IV)
7. Hypersensitivity to colchicine, NSAID or febuxostat
8. Use of NSAID, glucocorticoid, cyclosporine, clarithromycin, mercaptopurine, azathioprine, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, chemotherapy, tacrolimus, losartan, and fenofibrate
9. Inability to comply with the protocol requirements
10. The judgement of the investigator that the patient was not an appropriate candidate