Uric acid is produced by the liver to remove excess nitrogen from the body. This component is present in the blood as a sodium salt and is the final product of protein metabolism. With impaired renal function, an increase in the concentration of this substance occurs, which leads to various damage to tissues and organs. Often, elevated uric acid provokes the development of kidney stone disease and renal failure, and its excess is deposited in the cartilage tissue and joints, leading to painful inflammatory processes.
Norms of uric acid in the body
With a normal lifestyle and a balanced diet, the human body must produce up to 600 g of uric acid daily. A third of this amount is excreted through the intestines, and the rest is excreted along with urine. In men, the norm is considered to be a concentration of uric acid in the range of 55 mg per liter, and in women this mark should not exceed 40 mg, but the onset of menopause may slightly increase this indicator. It should be noted that hyperuricemia is more common in men due to non-compliance with the rules of a healthy diet.
Blood chemistry
Uric acid is a very important indicator of the state of human health, therefore, its study is currently used quite widely by specialists of various profiles.
However, for more reliable indicators, before the collection of biological material, the patient must comply with some rules. 12 hours before the uric acid test is performed, you should refrain from eating, completely exclude all drinks except water, and also give up alcohol and cigarettes. In addition, for 2-3 days it is necessary to follow a diet that contains a minimum amount of purine. This means that the patient needs to give up legumes, coffee, chocolate, red meat, liver, kidneys and tongue. Blood sampling is carried out on an empty stomach, and increased uric acid is determined by the enzymatic method, it is quite simple, reliable and convenient.
The causes of the disease
Increased uric acid can be detected even in the body of a healthy person with prolonged starvation, physical activity or eating foods rich in purines.
In addition, pregnant women suffering from severe toxicosis may also experience hyperuricemia. A pathological increase in the amount of uric acid is a sign of gout - a disease in which the kidneys excrete only part of this substance, and the rest crystallizes and is deposited in the eyes, skin, joints, kidneys, heart and intestines. As a rule, this disease is inherited, in other cases, it develops as a result of malnutrition. Often, elevated uric acid is observed in obesity, heart failure, blood diseases, hepatitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, psoriasis, eczema and biliary tract pathologies.
It is possible to lower the concentration of this substance with the help of medications, otherwise complications such as the development of gout, deposits of stones, increased blood pressure, malfunction of the heart rhythm, the development of angina pectoris and even myocardial infarction are possible.