Uric acid and uric acid/creatinine ratio and their correlations with the hemorheological determinants in subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: we have examined the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio as well as their correlations with the main determinants of the hemorheological profile in a group of subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: we evaluated the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatine ratio in 43 men and 57 women [median age 66.00 (25)] with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, subsequently divided according to the number of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and to the insulin resistance degree. RESULTS: serum uric acid, but not the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio, results strongly influenced by the number of cardiovascular risk factors and by the insulin resistance degree. In the whole group and in the subgroups of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis subjects, serum uric acid and serum uric acid/creatinine ratio show significant correlation, besides with whole blood viscosity, with plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation. The influence of the serum uric acid on the erythrocyte aggregability that is a part of the erythrocyte aggregation is to ascribe to the action carried out by serum uric acid on the erythrocyte zeta potential. CONCLUSIONS: it is reasonable to think that the treatment of the asymptomatic or symptomatic hyperuricemia with the urate-lowering therapy that reduces the serum uric acid concentration may reflect on the hemorheological profile which role on the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is well known.

Menopause and Hyperuricemia in Women in the Russian Population (Results of the ESSE-RF Study)

Aims. To evaluate the relationship of menopause and its features with hyperuricemia in Russian women. Methods. In this study, we used data from the cross-sectional phase of the epidemiological study Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Regions of the Russian Federation (ESSE-RF) conducted in 20132014, in 13 regions of Russia. The final random sample size was 12 781 women. According to the interviews, the fact of menopause and the features of climacteric were identified. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration greater than 360 mol/L. Age, behavioral risk factors and indicators of health status were assessed as covariates. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate assessment of associations. Apart from the assessment of the general sample, the analysis of the groups stratified by obesity, diabetes mellitus and the characteristics of climacteric was carried out. The results of logistic regression analysis are presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. In the general sample, after adjusting for covariates, menopause was directly associated with hyperuricemia (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.061.28), the association of hyperuricemia with age was not statistically significant. Menopause was more consistently associated with hyperuricemia in obese compared to non-obese women. In diabetic women, menopause is directly and significantly associated with hyperuricemia, whereas in non-diabetic women there was not the association between menopause and hyperuricemia. Taking into account the features of climacteric, menopause was directly associated with hyperuricemia only in the 410 years after the onset of menopause (OR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.021.26), in natural menopausal women (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.071.30) and who were taking hormone replacement therapy (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.061.43). Conclusions. The results of the study indicate the direct association of hyperuricemia with menopause, but not with the age of women. The stratified analysis has made it possible to identify some features of the association between hyperuricemia and menopause in women with metabolic disorders, as well as to assess the influence of the features of climacteric.

Hyperuricemia as a Risk Factor for Preterm Delivery in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

Objective: To determine hyperuricemia as a risk factor for preterm delivery in women with pre-eclampsia. Study Type: Case control study. Duration and Place of Study: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Sadiq Abbasi Hospital Bahawalpur from 1st July to 31st December 2019. Material and Methods: One hundred cases of pre-eclamptic and hyperuricemic women admitted for delivery through out-patient and emergency departments were divided in two groups, 50 cases in each group. Results: 70% women had hyperuricemia and pre-eclampsia deliver preterm and 34% women who had hyperuricemia and preeclampsia deliver at term. Conclusion: High serum uric acid concentration increased the chances of preterm delivery in pre-eclamptic women. Keywords: Hyperuricemia, Pre-eclampsia, Gestational hypertension, Uric acid, Pre-term delivery

Pharmacotherapy for gout

Background: Gout is a common disease that is mainly caused by hyperuricemia. Although it is relatively easy to treat, adherence to drug treatment and the rate at which treatment targets are met is low.Current Concepts: For the treatment of acute gout attack, colchicine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and glucocorticoids can be used alone or in combination depending on the severity of symptoms. To prevent gout attacks, patients are started on colchicine prior to or concurrent with treatment with uric acid–lowering drugs. The treatment is maintained until serum uric acid levels have returned to normal, and the patient has had no acute attacks for three to six months. Ultimately, the symptoms of gout are controlled in the long term by treating the patient’s hyperuricemia. For this purpose, allopurinol, febuxostat, and benzbromarone are used, and the side effects and contraindications for each drug should be checked. The goal for the treatment of chronic gout is to maintain a serum uric acid concentration below 6.0 mg/dL.Discussion and Conclusion: Patients visit the emergency departments of hospitals for sudden gout attacks. However, gout is a chronic disease that requires the lifelong use of uric acid–lowering agents. Therefore, it is necessary to educate patients on a serum urate-based treat-to-target approach.

Renal Hypouricemia 1: Rare Disorder as Common Disease in Eastern Slovakia Roma Population

Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is caused by an inherited defect in the main reabsorption system of uric acid, SLC22A12 (URAT1) and SLC2A9 (GLUT9). RHUC is characterized by a decreased serum uric acid concentration and an increase in its excreted fraction. Patients suffer from hypouricemia, hyperuricosuria, urolithiasis, and even acute kidney injury. We report clinical, biochemical, and genetic findings in a cohort recruited from the Košice region of Slovakia consisting of 27 subjects with hypouricemia and relatives from 11 families, 10 of whom were of Roma ethnicity. We amplified, directly sequenced, and analyzed all coding regions and exon–intron boundaries of the SLC22A12 and SLC2A9 genes. Sequence analysis identified dysfunctional variants c.1245_1253del and c.1400C>T in the SLC22A12 gene, but no other causal allelic variants were found. One heterozygote and one homozygote for c.1245_1253del, nine heterozygotes and one homozygote for c.1400C>T, and two compound heterozygotes for c.1400C>T and c.1245_1253del were found in a total of 14 subjects. Our result confirms the prevalence of dysfunctional URAT1 variants in Roma subjects based on analyses in Slovak, Czech, and Spanish cohorts, and for the first time in a Macedonian Roma cohort. Although RHUC1 is a rare inherited disease, the frequency of URAT1-associated variants indicates that this disease is underdiagnosed. Our findings illustrate that there are common dysfunctional URAT1 allelic variants in the general Roma population that should be routinely considered in clinical practice as part of the diagnosis of Roma patients with hypouricemia and hyperuricosuria exhibiting clinical signs such as urolithiasis, nephrolithiasis, and acute kidney injury.

Sex Difference in the Association Between Eating Away From Home and the Risk of High Serum Uric Acid in South China

Background: The prevalence of high serum uric acid is increasingly rising in recent years, and diet behavior is perceived to be associated with it. This study aimed to explore the relationship between eating away from home (EAFH) and the risk of high serum uric acid in adults in South China.Methods: The data utilized in this study were from Guangdong Nutrition and Health Survey (NHS) 2015. Serum uric acid concentration was detected. EAFH in the past week was investigated. We defined EAFH as food consumption away from home. Dietary data were collected by 24-h recalls on 3 consecutive days. A generalized linear mixed-effects model was applied to compute the odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95% CI.Results: A total of 3,489 individuals were included in this study. A 1.27-fold OR (95% CI: 1.05–1.52, P = 0.012) of high serum uric acid was identified in adults with EAFH in comparison with those without EAFH. With respect to men, a 1.66-fold OR (95% CI: 1.3–2.1, P < 0.001) of high serum uric acid was observed. We also observed that men with EAFH had higher intakes of red meat, poultry, vegetable, carbohydrate, protein, fat, and total energy, while a lower grain intake than those without EAFH. However, there was a lack of significant association between EAFH and the odds ratio of high serum uric acid in women. Women with EAFH did not have higher consumptions of red meat, vegetable, fish, fat, and water than those without EAFH.Conclusions: This study found that EAFH was associated with an increased odds ratio of high serum uric acid in men, but not in women.

Evaluation of Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Activity and Serum Uric Acid Level in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Studies in past few years have linked oxidative stress as a potential marker of diabetes mellitus. Thus, based on the previous literature this study was planned with the aim to evaluate serum GGT activity and serum uric acid level as potential indicators of oxidative stress in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. A total of 68 participants were included following inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the statistical analysis, statistically significant differences were observed in the mean GGT activity between controls (30.19±7.639IU/L) and cases (59.386±22.215IU/L) (p=0.000). Similarly, mean serum uric acid level of controls (5.180±1.476mg/dl) and cases (3.510±0.792mg/dl) (p=0.000), were also statistically difference. Further, after applying Pearson’s correlation, positive correlation between GGT and HbA1C level (r=0.390) and with GGT and FPG level (r=0.375) were observed. However, correlation between HbA1c and uric acid (r=-0.372); FPG and uric acid (r=-0.374) level suggested serum uric acid concentration was inversely proportional to the degree of dysglycemia in diabetes mellitus patients of this study. Hence, results of this study suggested serum GGT activity and serum uric acid level were altered as compared to controls and cases. Thus, further study on these parameters may help to serve it as potential markers of oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus patients. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, HbA1C, GGT, Uric acid and Oxidative stress.

Losartan and Eprosartan Induce a Similar Effect on the Acute Rise in Serum Uric Acid Concentration after an Oral Fructose Load in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction. Excessive intake of fructose increases serum uric acid concentration. Hyperuricemia induces a negative effect on atherosclerosis and inflammation. Hyperuricemia is common in patients with arterial hypertension. Several antihypertensive drugs including diuretics increase serum uric acid concentration. In contrast, the angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) losartan was found to lower serum uric acid though it may increase renal excretion while other ARBs showed mostly a neutral effect. In this study, effects of two AT1 receptor antagonists losartan and eprosartan on serum uric acid changes induced by oral fructose load were directly compared. Methods. The randomized, crossover, head-to-head comparative study comprised 16 ambulatory patients (mean age 64.5 ± 9.8 years). The patients fulfilled AHA/NHLBI 2005 criteria of metabolic syndrome. A daily single morning dose of each study drug (50 mg of losartan or 600 mg of eprosartan) was given during two 3-month periods in a random order separated by 2-week washout time. The oral fructose tolerance test (OFTT) was performed at baseline and after each two 3-onth treatment periods. Before and during OFTT, urine excretion of uric acid and creatinine was assessed in the first morning portion of urine. Blood samples for the measurement of serum uric acid and lipids were taken at baseline and 30, 60, and 120 minutes after oral intake of 75 g of fructose. Results. After 3-month treatment with eprosartan and losartan, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly and to a similar extent. After the treatment, serum uric acid and its baseline and postfructose urine excretion were unchanged. No significant changes of plasma lipids before and after OFTT were observed throughout the study. Conclusions. The study showed that in patients with hypertension and metabolic syndrome, both losartan and eprosartan have a neutral effect on fasting and postfructose load serum uric acid concentration and its urinary excretion. This trial is registered with NCT04954560.

Prevalence of hyperuricemia in cerebrovascular accidents and its correlation with their outcome

Introduction: Cerebrovascular accident or stroke is a disease of the vascular system of the brain.According to ICD 11, stroke is classified as a neurological disease and not under the circulatorysystem. It is the second leading cause of death worldwide. It cannot be said that high Serum UricAcid [SUA] amongst patients with cerebrovascular accidents is directly correlated with theiroutcome. The present study planned to estimate uric acid levels and their association in acute strokepatients, both ischemic and hemorrhagic. Method: A total of 100 stroke patients admitted under theneurology department were included in the study. Brain imaging (CT/MRI) was performed. Theserum uric acid was estimated. Results: Out of a total of 100 patients, 74 were males, and 26 werefemales. Nine patients were less than 45 years old and 91 patients were 45 and above. Thirty-ninepatients had ischemic, and 61 patients had a hemorrhagic stroke, respectively. Out of 100 patients,23 patients had normal uric acid levels (<7mg/dl). Seventy-seven patients were with high uric acidlevels. The mean serum uric acid concentration in male patients was 8.48±2.7and 9.20±2.7 infemales. Among the total 100 cases, 69 survived, and the remaining 31 were among the non-survivor group at the time of discharge. Mean serum uric acid in stroke survivors was 8.5±2.6mg/dl, while in non-survivors, it was 8.6±2.2 mg/dl. There was no significant difference between thelevels of uric acid among survivors and non-survivors. Conclusions: The prevalence ofhyperuricemia (>9mg/dl) amongst stroke patients was 77% in the present study. The values ofserum uric acid were significantly elevated in the patients aged > 45 years. The serum uric acidvalues were high among the group of hyperglycemic and hypertensive patients at the time ofadmission. There was no significant difference between the levels of uric acid among survivors andnon-survivors.

Hyperuricemia Resistant to a Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor, Topiroxostat: a Case Report

Hyperuricemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. Gout is a clinical symptom of hyperuricemia, and lowering serum uric acid concentration has been recommended to prevent its recurrence. We present a case whose hyperuricemia was resistant to a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, febuxostat, but not another inhibitor, topiroxostat, while both are presumed to inhibit the same enzymatic center of this rate-limiting enzyme for uric acid production. The different efficacy indicates that xanthine oxidase inhibitors are not interchangeable even among those acting on the same site of the enzyme.