Therapeutic Value of Probenecid (Benemid®) in Gout

Probenecid (benemid®) was first introduced into clinical medicine by Boger 1 as an adjunct to penicillin and paraaminosalicylic acid therapy. Probenecid has been found to be a powerful agent that reversibly inhibits renal tubular transfer, suppressing tubular secretion of penicillin, paraaminosalicylic acid, paraaminohippuric acid, and phenolsulfonphthalein. 2 In this respect it is similar to carinamide; but while the latter is required in doses of 18 to 24 gm. per day for its tubular effect, probenecid accomplishes the same results in doses of 2 gm. daily. That probenecid, like carinamide, is also capable of blocking tubular reabsorption of glomerular constituents was demonstrated by Schneider and Corcoran, 3 who were able to increase the excretion of phosphate by administration of the drug. Gutman, acting on the report by Wolfson and associates 4 that carinamide was a uricosuric agent, demonstrated that probenecid had a similar effect, presumably by blocking the partial reabsorption of