Impact of the Synbiotics and Urate-Lowering Therapy on Gut Microbiota and Cytokine Profile in Patients with Chronic Gouty Arthritis

Abstract

The main goal of our study is the impact evaluation of complex urate-lowering therapy with the synbiotic addition on fecal microbiota and cytokine profile in patients with primary gout. During our study, 130 men (mean age 55.5 ± 9.4 years) with gout (duration 7.7 ± 7.1 years) were examined. All patients were divided into two treatment groups. The main group (n = 68) was taking allopurinol at 300 mg per day dose and additionally a synbiotic. The comparison group (n = 62) received allopurinol monotherapy without synbiotic intake. The therapy duration was 3 months. Evaluation of therapy efficiency was marked by blood uric acid changes, cytokine levels, CRP and fecal microbiota condition. After treatment, stabilization of the gut microbiota parameters was observed, which was leading to normalization uricemia levels (40.3% vs. 21%, p <0.01) in the main group patients. Addition of synbiotic to allopurinol leads to a blood uric acid lowering (18.7% vs. 13.3%, p <0.01), CRP reduction (75% vs. 26.3%, p <0.01) as well as decrease of cytokines level: IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNFα (all p <0.001). After a 3-month gout treatment, a group of patients who received complex therapy with synbiotic inclusion showed signs of disease remission characterized by inflammation activity reducing, fecal microbiota condition normalization and a more pronounced decrease in laboratory markers comparing to control group.