Hyperuricemia

Elevated uric acid level in the blood which is exceeding 7 mg / dL or 416 micromol / L

Uric acid ( UA ) a nitrogenous component of urine ( poorly soluble ) final product of protein and purine metabolism Purine metabolism leads to end product of UA by conversion of xanthine by xanthine oxidase UA is present in plasma as monosodium urate crystal ( MSU ) and MSU crystals begin to precipitate when UA saturation point is exceeded causing gout Most of purine is endogenous ( mainly from liver , intestine & other tissues ) while some is exogenous ( mainly animal proteins ) Exact role of UA is unclear but it is assumed to have anti-oxidant effects at physiological levels but appears to have pro-inflammatory effect at higher concentrations 2/3rd of UA is excreted by kidneys and a third is excreted into the intestine More common in men.

Mean serum uric acid has increased progressively over the last century in many populations Incidence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia is estimated to range between 10 % to 20 % worldwide Yasemin et al report the prevalence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia to be21.2 % in Quatar US prevalence reported to be about 20...