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  Background & Objectives: Low dose aspirin has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The bimodel action of aspirin on serum uric acid showed that aspirin at a high dosage promoted uricusuria while intermediate doses were (1-2gr/day) caused uric acid retention. The main goal of this study was to survey the effect of low dose aspirin on serum level of uric acid in patients with ischemic heart disease.

  Methods: The study design was cross-sectional and analytical type. In this study we selected 60 patients who used low dose aspirin among the patients of Imam Khomeini hospital's heart clinic (2008-9) and their information was registered in special questionnaires including serum level of uric acid and creatinine before and after prescription of aspirin. Data was then statistically analyzed using Paired t test and Willcoxon.

  Results: Of 60 patients 11 ( 18.3 % ) were under 50 years and 49 ( 81.7%) were above 50 years. The male to female ratio was 1.72 (38: 63.3% versus 22: 36.7%). 53.3 % of patients showed an increase in serum uric acid, but 46.7% did not. No significant differences in uric acid levels was found in patients under 50 years before and after administration of aspirin. Serum uric acid levels were increased after administration of 0.1unit of aspirin.

  Conclusion: Low -dose aspirin (80 mg/ day) caused a slight but significant increase in serum uric acid and creatinine levels in patients over 50 years of age.

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Background & objectives: Azathioprine is widely used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It has negative effects on the function of kidney. Therefore, considering the protective effects of ginger on nephrotoxins, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of ginger on renal changes induced by azathioprine in rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 56 female rats were divided into 7 groups including control, sham and 5 experimental groups receiving azathioprine (50mg/kg), ginger (200mg/kg), azathioprine plus ginger (200,100 and 50 mg/kg). In this study, ginger was administered by gavage and azathioprine intraperitoneally in 21 consecutive days. At the end, serum levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine were measured and the histological structure of the kidneys was examined. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan tests at significance level of p≤0.05.
Results: The results showed that azathioprine caused the destruction of structure along with cell necrosis, tubular degeneration, glomerular atrophy, urinary space enlargement, hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal tissue, as well as an increase in the serum level of urea, uric acid and creatinine at p≤0.05. However, simultaneous use of ginger and azathioprine reduced the serum levels of urea, uric acid, creatinine and improved the kidney structure compared to the azathioprine group.
Conclusion: The results showed that ginger had a protective effect on kidney tissue, due to its antioxidant properties, by inhibiting free radicals produced by azathioprine and decreasing the severity degradation effects of azathioprine on kidney tissue and function.