Xanthine oxidase in Gout
Xanthine oxidase in gout is an important enzyme. Gout occurs when the purines taken in as part of a normal diet get converted to uric acid. If the uric acid levels are too high the body deposits the crystals into the joint. The inflammatory reaction to these crystals is what causes the pain in gout. One is when the kidneys are not doing their job properly and do no excrete enough uric acid, so it accumulates in the body especially in the joints Another class of drugs gets the body to excrete more uric acid in the urine. The other class of drugs set out to inhibit the xanthine oxidase enzyme. If that enzyme if inhibited from working the purines which do not convert to uric acid. The most commonly used drug for this is allopurinol and it is also known widely.