(Allopurinol and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischaemic heart disease) is a major multi-centre trial of allopurinol 600mg daily versus no treatment added to usual therapy in patients aged 60 years and over with ischaemic heart disease. The aim is to establish whether allopurinol improves cardiovascular outcomes in this population.

Suitable patients are identified in primary care by their GPs; those that respond favourably attend an appointment with a research nurse. Patients will be randomised to either allopurinol or no drug to be given in addition to their usual medications. Allopurinol will be started at 100mg daily for two weeks, then titrated to 300mg daily for two weeks, then titrated to 600mg daily if tolerated. Patients will then be followed up for a period of around four years to count the number of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths that occur.

Participating practices will receive a fee for completing the database search, in addition to per patient payments.

Recruitment will start soon in the West Midlands! Would your practice be interested in helping us with this important study?

So far, more than 200 practices are taking part in the East Midlands and Scotland. The Trial Manager is Jen Dumbleton, and her contact details are as follows: jennifer.dumbleton@nottingham.ac.uk, 0115 823 1053. Further details can also be found on the trial website: http://allheartstudy.org/.