Uric acid

Why this test?

• For diagnosing gout.
• For periodic monitoring of the condition of people undergoing radiation and chemotherapy - frequent cell death during these types of treatment can lead to an increased concentration of uric acid.

In what cases is it prescribed?

• If gout is suspected (the main symptom is pain in the joints, most often in the big toe).
• During antitumor therapy.
• When monitoring the results of gout treatment.

Information about the test

Uric acid is a product of catabolism of purine bases, which are part of DNA and RNA of all body cells.

Purines appear mainly after the natural death of cells, and a smaller part of them comes with food (with liver, red meat, legumes, fish) and liquids (with beer, wine). Uric acid is transported by blood from the liver (where the enzyme xanthine oxidase interacts with it) to the kidneys, where about 70% of it is filtered and excreted in the urine, the rest enters the gastrointestinal tract and is removed with feces. If uric acid is produced too much or not enough is excreted in the urine, it accumulates in the body, which is manifested by its high concentration in the blood (hyperuricemia).

A constantly elevated level of uric acid can cause of gout - inflammation of the joints, in which uric acid crystals are deposited in the joint (synovial) fluid. In addition, the deposition of urates and the formation of stones in the urinary system is also a consequence of a high level of uric acid in the blood. An increase in the level of uric acid can be caused by increased cell death (due to anticancer therapy) or, less often, by an innate tendency to increase the production of uric acid. Insufficient removal of uric acid usually leads to a decrease in the function of the kidneys when they are damaged. In many cases, the exact cause of excessive uric acid accumulation remains unknown.

Accelerated processes of cell death, as well as a decrease in the rate of excretion of uric acid by the kidneys, cause hyperuricemia - an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood. As a result, it is deposited in the joints and soft tissues, inflammation passes to intra-articular urate crystals. In addition, stones are formed in the urinary system.