Uric acid

Testing of uric acid levels in the blood.

Uric acid is formed from the breakdown of three purines that come from food, endogenous synthesis and the breakdown of nucleic acids.


Uric acid measurements are used in:

• diagnosis and treatment of renal failure,
• gout fever,
• progression of kidney disease,
• assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease,

An increase in concentration occurs in:

• urinary gout,
• kidney failure,
• pregnancy poisoning,
• hypothyroidism,
• thyroidism
• diuretic treatment of cancer,
• cancer,
• after a meal,
• abuse of alcohol,
• high physical exertion, 

A decrease in concentration occurs in:

• inhibited tubular reabsorption,
• severe liver failure,
• inherited xanthine oxidase deficiency,
• cancer of the colon and lung,
• lymphomas,
• when taking drugs that inhibit uric acid synthesis or that increase its excretion.

Hypouricemia (reduced uric acid concentration) has no clinical consequences but helps diagnose undetected diseases.