Uric Acid
Definition
Measures the amount of uric acid in the blood or urine. Uric acid is a waste product formed by the breakdown of purines; purines come from dying cells and certain foods.
Purpose
- Diagnosing gout, especially together with joint fluid analysis
- Monitoring chemotherapy, when treatment rapidly kills cancer cells, large amounts of purines are released into the blood
- Evaluating kidney stones, a urine test that determines how much high uric acid contributes to stone formation
Results
- High in blood, overproduction, insufficient kidney filtering, or a purine-rich diet. Associated conditions: gout, kidney disease, leukemia, preeclampsia
- Low in blood, rare, usually clinically insignificant
- High in urine, gout, kidney stones, certain cancers, obesity, or genetic disorders such as Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
- Low in urine, kidney disease, lead poisoning, or alcohol use disorder
Normal Values
Laboratory-specific.
Risks and Limitations
High uric acid does not necessarily mean disease, many people have high uric acid without any health problems. Medications such as aspirin and niacin can affect results.