24 fungalbionics-a new concept of the etiology of gout and hyperuricemia

ABSTRACT Fungalbionics implicates fungi and fungal metabolites as the cause of gout/hyperuricemia. The mechanisms are not the usual patterns of invasive-type mycoses nor of mycotoxicoses,

but rather incorporate occult features of both mechanisms. Gout and/or hyperuricemia can be induced in fowl by the mycotoxins oosporein, ochratoxin and by oosporein-produclng fungi. Gouty

tophi have been induced in primates by aflatoxin. Fungi produce preformed uric acid, preformed urate crystals, lipoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and glutamates, excess of which are found in

gout. Gouty tophi are granulomatous and possess all of the features of delayed hypersensitivity. Giant cells in avian and human gouty tophi contain asteroid bodies which are fungal in

origin. Fungal-like spherules have been found in avian gouty lesions; cultural and immunological electron microscopy studies are in progress. The findings in acute gout are those of an acute

infection. All drugs used in treating gout/hyperuricemia are antifungal. Griseofulvin, an antifungal antibiotic, is as effective as colchicine in gout. Both are antitubulins and arrest

fungal cell division. Probenecid, allopurinol, corticosteroids, NSAIDS, possess antifungal activity. The fungalbionic concept gives a unitarian explanation of gout, hyperuricemia and related

diseases and findings. ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Univ of Calif School of Med San Francisco Ca U.S.A./Multicenter Fungalblonlc Research Project. Address all

mail to European Office Am Muehlbach 13, Freiburg, 7800, West Germany A V Costantini Authors * A V Costantini View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google

Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Costantini, A. 24 FUNGALBIONICS-A NEW CONCEPT OF THE ETIOLOGY OF GOUT AND HYPERURICEMIA. _Pediatr

Res_ 24, 115 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198807000-00048 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 July 1988 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198807000-00048 SHARE THIS ARTICLE

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