Authors
Introduction Hyperuricemia and uricosuria are frequently encountered in patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia and the acute leukemias.¹This is believed to be due to an increase in nucleic acid metabolism. Destruction of the leukemic cells and the interference with nucleic acid synthesis following the use of various therapeutic agents (x-ray, alkylating agents, cortisone, and antimetabolites) further augment the production of uric acid. The occurrence of renal failure secondary to intra- and extrarenal crystallization of uric acid with resultant urinary obstruction has been observed during the course of therapy for leukemia.²,³To reduce the precipitation of uric acid crystals the maintenance of a high urinary output and the alkalinization of the urine have been advocated. We wish to report a case of acute uric acid nephropathy with renal failure which occurred during the treatment of a patient for acute granulocytic leukemia. Peritoneal dialysis was used successfully to reduce azotemia
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Lewis R. Weintraub (1964) studied this question.