Urol. praxi. 2020;21(2):62-66 | DOI: 10.36290/uro.2020.014

Uric acid from the perspective of kidney disease

MUDr. Jiří Kladenský

Urointegritas s. r. o., Dům zdraví Marty Hartlové, Brno

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in man. There are three sources of UA in man: food nucleotides, degradation of tissue nucleoproteins, and biosynthesis. UA is eliminated by the kidneys in 75-80%, with the remainder being excreted from the body by the gastrointestinal tract and through perspiration. Plasma UA concentration depends on dietary purine intake, intensity of its intrinsic formation, and its elimination rate. Elevated levels of UA in the blood (hyperuricaemia) and increased urinary UA excretion (hyperuricosuria) are of clinical significance. In the case of disorders of UA metabolism, hyperuricaemia tends to be the major and most common problem for man since, when it is untreated and uncontrolled, it leads to the development of gout (gouty arthritis) with all its negative consequences for the human body, including uric acid lithiasis. Serious consequences for man are also associated with hyperuricosuria which may not necessarily be accompanied by hyperuricaemia. The review article presents in detail diseases that occur in the setting of underlying disorders of UA metabolism; also discussed are the options of treatment and prevention for disorders of UA metabolism.

Keywords: uric acid, hyperuricaemia, hyperuricosuria, gout, uric acid lithiasis.

Received: March 9, 2020; Revised: April 13, 2020; Accepted: April 13, 2020; Prepublished online: April 13, 2020; Published: June 2, 2020  Show citation