Can a drug called allopurinol help people with heart and lung disease?

Do xanthine oxidase inhibitors reduce right ventricular mass in pulmonary hypertension?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition where the airways become inflamed and narrowed, causing difficulty breathing. It is a common condition, which affects people’s daily lives. Many people with COPD develop a form of pulmonary hypertension, where low oxygen causes the arteries in the lungs to narrow, which in turn puts stress on the heart, leading to heart failure. Many people with COPD die from cardiovascular complications rather than from their lung condition. Studies in the laboratory suggest that a drug called allopurinol, already used to treat gout, might be effective at treating these patients. Professor Allan Struthers and colleagues have been awarded a grant to test this drug for the first time in people with COPD who have pulmonary artery hypertension. This research will reveal if the drug could be a new treatment option for patients with this disease, improving symptoms and survival and therefore quality of life in these ill patients.