Pathology Associates Of Lexington, P.A.

Uric Acid or Urate Test, Blood

Uric acid, Serum This is one of the serum analytes commonly present in general laboratory chemistry panels or profiles. Gout is actually diagnosed with: (1) findings of diagnostic crystals in synovial fluid or surgically excised joint tissue containing tophi (in October 2003, Dr. Armstrong found that a best-sensitive histological technique for diagnosis in soft tissue is to frozen section the suspect area and do polarized light exam without any staining of the slide...or a wet prep...or process for histology with alcohol fixation and bypass as much aqueous processing & staining as possible); (2) and/or characteristic radiological features (especially to rule in or out pseudogout...chondrocalcinosis, which can cause an "acute joint" with neutrophil exudate but negative Mirra criteria for septic joint [L07-9036])...has a more brownish deposit by H&E); plus (3) compatible history and physical findings (a recently "irritated"...by surgery or other...joint can appear to have focal crystallosis arthroscopically but the whitish foci be inspissated, degrading tissue-surface fibrin [L07-9422]). We may also be asked to search joint fluid for evidence of prosthesis failure [here].

Causes of Decreased Values/Levels

Causes of Increased Values/Levels

asymptomatic hyperuricemia is common & more common with advancing age & most never develop gout
gout (many cases negative for uric acid elevation)
post-therapeutic rise after cytotoxic treatment of some malignancies (additional coordinated treatment may be done to prevent injury from crystal deposits)
medications (low-dose salicylates; thiazide diuretics; niacin; ethanol)
renal insufficiency
assoc. with type II diabetes
assoc. with dyslipidemia
assoc. with hypertension
assoc. with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease
assoc. with obesity...primarily truncal (metabolic syndrome)
a marker of increased risk for death by all causes in Japanese railroad workers¹

Test Synonyms

Other names for this exact or approximate agent are:

urate, serum

References:

Rott KT, Agudelo CA, Gout Editorial, JAMA 289(21):2857-2860, 4 June 2003.

(posted 8 June 2003; latest update 1 January 2008)