Article: Hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia is the presence of high levels of uric acid in the blood. The upper end of the normal range is 530 micromol/L (6 mg/dL) for women and and 619 micromol/L (7 mg/dL) for men. [1] Hyperuricemia is caused either by accelated generation of uric acid through purine metabolism or by impaired excretion in the kidney, or by high levels of fructose in the diet.[2][3]

Humans lack urate oxidase, an enzyme which degrades uric acid. Increased levels predispose for gout and (if very high) renal failure. Apart from normal variation (with a genetic component), tumor lysis syndrome produces extreme levels of uric acid, mainly leading to renal failure.

Reference

• Michael A. Becker, M.D., H. Ralph Schumacher, Jr., M.D., Robert L. Wortmann, M.D., Patricia A. MacDonald, B.S.N., N.P., Denise Eustace, B.A., William A. Palo, M.S., Janet Streit, M.S., and Nancy Joseph-Ridge, M.D. "Febuxostat Compared with Allopurinol in Patients with Hyperuricemia and Gout" The New England Journal of Medicine. Boston: Dec 8, 2005. Vol. 353, Iss. 23; pg. 2450 - 2461

See also

• Hypouricemia
• Fructose