Like its primary metabolite oxypurinol, allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase and thus the synthesis of uric acid from hypoxanthine and xanthine. Uric acid plasma levels decrease; in addition to uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine are also excreted in urine. Since the two preliminary elements are more readily available, they are recycled and the synthesis of new purines is inhibited.

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