Not medically reviewed
Renal
Uric acid
Not medically reviewed · Content last updated · 1 min read ·
This is the date the draft was written, not a medical review date.
Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism in humans, eliminated mainly by the kidney. Hyperuricaemia predisposes to gout and uric acid stones.
Reference interval
| Conventional (mg/dL) | SI (µmol/L) | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 3.4–7 mg/dL | 202–416 µmol/L |
| Women | 2.4–6 mg/dL | 143–357 µmol/L |
Specimen: Serum · Conventional × 59.48 = SI
Causes of high values
Reduced renal excretion (CKD, diuretics, low-dose aspirin), purine-rich diet, alcohol, obesity, metabolic syndrome, increased cell turnover (haematological malignancy, tumour lysis, psoriasis) and inherited enzyme defects.
Causes of low values
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors and uricosuric drugs, severe liver disease, SIADH, Fanconi syndrome and low-purine diets.
Pre-analytical and method notes
Serum urate can be normal or low during an acute gout flare; diagnosis rests on clinical features and crystal identification. Long-term treatment targets (often below 6 mg/dL, 360 µmol/L) depend on guideline and disease severity. Reference limits vary by method and laboratory; women have lower values before menopause.
References
- Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier, 6th edition (2018) — Tier 3 (textbook)
- Loscalzo J, et al.. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw-Hill, 21st edition (2022) — Tier 3 (textbook)
- Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine. Elsevier, 10th edition (2020) — Tier 3 (textbook)
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