A 74-year-old man reports having multiple gouty attacks of his left big toe. He is symptom free currently and is prescribed allopurinol for gout prophylaxis. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of action for this medication?
High-Yield Explanation
Allopurinol effectively blocks uric acid production by inhibiting xanthine oxidase. Allopurinol is indicated in patients with a history of uric acid calculi of the urinary tract. In addition, it is often used in patients with malignancy (eg, leukemia, lymphoma), particularly when chemotherapy or radiation therapy is being used.