Examinations
Examinations
Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism in nucleotides. Excess nitrogen is excreted from the body through uric acid. In blood plasma, uric acid exists as a sodium salt.
In healthy individuals, uric acid levels increase after consuming foods rich in purines but decrease when purine-rich foods are excluded from the diet. Foods high in purines include red meat, liver, kidneys, brain, tongue, and legumes.
Disruption in purine metabolism, as observed in gout, leads to increased uric acid levels in the blood, which can damage organs and tissues. Hyperuricemia and excessive urinary excretion of uric acid are associated with kidney stones, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and other pathological conditions.
- Sample type: Blood sample from a vein.
- Fasting: The test should be conducted after 8–14 hours of fasting.
- Post-meal: The test can also be performed 4 hours after a light meal.
- Dietary restrictions: Maintain a standard diet before the test, avoiding excessive protein and purine consumption.
- Other precautions: Avoid emotional and physical stress as well as alcohol consumption before the test.
- Gout
- Kidney stone disease
- Kidney function evaluation
- Lymphoproliferative disorders
- Gout
- Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma
- Pregnancy toxicosis
- Prolonged fasting
- Alcohol consumption
- Use of salicylates, diuretics, cytostatics
- Idiopathic familial hyperuricemia
- Enhanced catabolic processes in cancer
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- Physiological increase (after intense physical activity or consuming purine-rich foods)
Decreased Uric Acid Levels (Hypouricemia):
- Wilson's disease
- Fanconi syndrome
- Xanthinuria
- Hodgkin's disease
- Proximal tubular defect in kidneys
- Purine-free diet
- Use of allopurinol, radiographic contrast agents, glucocorticoids, azathioprine