About the test
Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines which are nitrogenous compounds found in human cells and in certain foods.
Uric acid is mainly synthetized in the liver and is then filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine and in the stools. In case of uric acid overproduction or in case of decreased elimination, uric acid accumulates in the blood (hyperuricemia). This can cause the formation of crystals in joints and in turn cause gout which is a type of arthritis.
Sample
Venous blood
Preparation
12hour fasting prior to testing. Water is allowed.
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Uric arthritis (Gout)
- Renal failure
- Leukemia
- Preeclampsia
- Drugs
- diuretics, salicylates, corticosteroids, diazoxide, nicotinic acid
- Polycythemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
- Down syndrome
- Sarcoidosis
- Post chemotherapy or radiation treatment
Decreased values
- Fanconi syndrome
- Wilson syndrome
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Liver disease
- Low purine diet
- Bronchogenic carcinoma
- Celiac sprue
- Drugs (radiographic contrast media, corticotropin, allopurinol, anticoagulants)
Additional information
High purine foods include: Red meat, seafood, sardines, anchovies, tuna, trout, codfish, scallop, dry beans, mushrooms, tomato, almonds.