Uric acid – the norm of serum testing

Proven content

Uric acid is an organic chemical compound that is one of the end products of metabolism. Its concentration depends on the amount produced by the body and excreted by the kidneys. Uric acid testing is performed, inter alia, when gout is suspected.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of purine compounds (e.g. DNA and RNA found in cells in the body and in food). Purine degradation occurs in hepatocytes of the liver under the influence of various enzymes. This means that uric acid must be excreted because it cannot be converted further in the body.

The main organ responsible for the excretion of uric acid is the kidneys, which means that uric acid is removed with the urine. Less often it is excreted through the intestines (about 30%). Certain medical conditions make it difficult for uric acid to be excreted. This is the case, for example, in the case of gout and gout. Sometimes it accumulates in large amounts in the blood in the course of certain metabolic diseases. Uric acid testing allows, among other things, to diagnose urolithiasis, which is caused by the excretion of too much of this substance.

Symptoms that indicate elevated uric acid:

1. fever,
2. joint pain, redness and swelling
3. hematuria,
4. urine stagnation
5. pain in the abdomen and lumbar region,
6. nausea and vomiting.

Do you have the above symptoms? Be sure to contact your doctor. On the haloDoctor.pl website, you can arrange a teleconsultation with your family doctor today and you will learn the answers to your questions.

When do we measure uric acid concentration?

The following cases can be distinguished when a doctor asks us to test the concentration of uric acid:

1. Suspicion of gout – in case of swelling, redness and pain in the joints. Gout often causes arthritis, especially of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe.
2. Monitoring uric acid levels – in people with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Chemotherapy intensifies the breakdown of cancer cells and the release of purine compounds from them, which in turn are converted into uric acid.
3. Monitoring the progress of treatment in patients with gout – the main task of the therapy is to reduce uric acid levels.
4. Diagnosing urolithiasis – urolithiasis is a disease that arises, among other things, due to the excretion of large amounts of uric acid. In the case of severe renal colic, uric acid testing helps to determine what type of urinary stones the patient has. Renal colic is characterized by severe pain in the lower abdomen that spreads down to the back. In addition, patients then pass urine more frequently, but in less quantity. They are also accompanied by fever and hematuria.

Uric acid testing should be carried out prophylactically once a year. It is available in the patient’s packages on Medonet Market along with other tests that determine parameters important for health. Find the research that best suits your needs:

1. Pre-consultation tests with a dietitian – home blood analysis
2. Preventive examinations package – blood tests

What does the uric acid test look like?

1. Material for uric acid testing: serum or daily urine collection.

2. Preparation for the uric acid test: the test person should be fasting at least 8 hours before the test is performed (you should come for the test in the morning). In addition, it is better to avoid vigorous physical exertion before testing.

3. The course of uric acid testing: the measurement of uric acid concentration is based on a single blood collection from a vein in the arm with the use of a disposable needle and test tube. After collecting the material for testing, apply pressure to the puncture site to prevent bleeding.

4. The norm of uric acid concentration: 180-420 µmol / l (3-7 mg / dl); higher values ​​in men than in women.

5. Notes: A gout attack can occur in a patient with normal uric acid levels, and vice versa – elevated uric acid levels do not always lead to gout symptoms. The most common cause of gout is a genetically determined tendency to overproduce uric acid and impaired excretory function of the kidneys. Before having a uric acid test, talk to your doctor about any medical conditions you have or any medications you are taking that may have any effect on the test result.

A package of diagnostic tests for gout helps to detect the disease at an early stage. The test is performed at over 500 points across Poland and you can buy it quickly and safely on the Medonet Market website.

What do the uric acid reference values ​​depend on?

The concentration of uric acid in the blood likes to change and depends on many factors, including: gender, age, and how efficient our kidneys are. Normal uric acid level should be 180-420 µmol / l. On the other hand, the concentration of uric acid in the urine should not exceed 4.8 mmol / 24 h (800 mg / 24 h) in men and 4.5 mmol / 24 h (750 mg) in women.

If we have a normal uric acid result, it means that purine metabolism and uric acid removal have not been disturbed. Attention! Normal values ​​do not completely rule out other disorders as the result may be normal even for gout.

Uric acid test – interpretation of results

High uric acid levels – hyperuricemia

Elevated levels of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia. The condition can be related to the excess production of uric acid or the release of uric acid from cells, for example:

1. in genetic diseases (Lesch-Nyhan disease, von Gierke disease);
2. due to cell destruction during cancer treatment, with radiation therapy or chemotherapy;
3. due to lead poisoning.

Hyperuricemia can also occur in people who have kidney problems caused by acidosis or alcohol abuse. In addition, when we eat protein-rich foods or engage in strenuous exercise, uric acid excretion may be impaired. Certain medications also increase uric acid levels, such as barbiturates and diuretics.

The most common symptoms of hyperuricemia are:

1. renal colic – characterized by severe pain in the lumbar region, radiating to the side and to the lower limb. It has a tendency to move around. Often the pain is accompanied by weakness, fever and nausea;
2. gout with fever and weakness. Gout occurs as a consequence of the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, causing inflammation of the joints.

High uric acid levels can lead to:

1. gout
2. kidney stones and other inflammatory conditions of the joints,
3. dehydration,
4. arterial hypertension,
5. hypothyroidism
6. hemolytic anemia,
7. heart attack.

Hyperuricemia is also observed in the case of leukemia and during the postmenopausal period.

Low uric acid levels

Blood uric acid levels may also be lowered. However, it does not clearly indicate a given disease, but rather appears as an accompanying symptom. Low uric acid levels can occur in:

1. Wilson’s ailment;
2. Fanconi’s syndrome;
3. celiac disease;
4. disease related to excessive secretion of growth hormone;
5. liver and kidney diseases;
6. Schwartz-Bartter syndrome.

In addition, drugs used in the treatment of hyperuricemia: salicylates, allopurinol or probenecid – reduce uric acid levels. These substances also include estrogens, corticotropin and phenothiazines.

You can also test uric acid concentration and more at home. Use the Multifunction Meter – glucose, cholesterol, uric acid – NOVAMA MultiCheck Pro +.

important: you should not interpret test results and make a diagnosis yourself. With uric acid results, you should always make an appointment with a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis in relation to the entire clinical picture. The determination of uric acid is very often treated as an auxiliary test, i.e. it is not enough for the doctor to make an appropriate diagnosis.

How to lower uric acid levels?

The mainstay of treatment for hyperuricemia is cure the underlying diseasebecause excessive uric acid levels most often accompany other ailments. Acid levels can be influenced by lifestyle changes, most often this is the case diet changes. In people with high levels of uric acid, the diet should be based primarily on drinking plenty of water (still) and avoiding strong coffee, tea and alcohol (especially beer). Also, beverages containing high amounts of fructose and fruit juices increase uric acid levels in the blood. In addition, patients should eliminate fatty foods, red meat, dairy products and legumes from their daily diet. You should reduce the amount of salt in your food because excess sodium inhibits the excretion of uric acid in the urine. However, it is recommended that you eat more lean poultry meat, fruit and grain products.

It is also very important body hydration. It is recommended to drink about 2-3 liters of fluid a day – preferably still mineral water or herbal teas. Infusions prepared from birch leaves, dandelion or nettle have a very good effect. They accumulate the process of uric acid excretion from the body.

In addition to diet, it is also used in hyperuricemia pharmacotherapy. Drugs that are often prescribed by a doctor are hypouricemic preparationswhose task is to lower uric acid in the blood. The most common are: febuxostat and allopurinol. In addition to taking medications, it is worth increasing physical activity and quitting smoking.

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