Risk factors associated with AH, such as concomitant diuretic use, pre-existing renal impairment and recent initiation of allopurinol, were commonly present in AH patients; however, their role in the mechanism of AH remains to be established. A clear risk factor was the HLA-B*5801 status; this was especially relevant in Asian populations where there is a higher carriage rate of the allele. High allopurinol dose, previously suggested to be a risk factor, was not confirmed as such. The paucity of well-documented case reports and studies of AH render it difficult to draw more concrete conclusions or construct a meticulous profile of patients at risk of AH. Future case reports of AH need to be better documented to contribute to understanding the risks for, and mechanisms of, AH.