Hyperuricemia: Causes, symptoms and treatment

There are many causes of hyperuricemia. For the group of causes of chronic hyperuricemia or gout, there are special drugs that help eliminate uric acid and maintain a balanced state, limiting gouty joint pain. As for other secondary causes of hyperuricemia, treatment for uric acid reduction is the treatment of the cause of the disease, and medications that reduce uric acid are only supportive treatments.

What is hyperuricemia?

Hyperuricemia occurs when there is too much uric acid in the blood. High levels of uric acid can lead to a number of diseases, including gout. Increased levels of uric acid also raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

Common symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia?

You may have symptoms of kidney disease or gouty arthritis due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Some signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia include:

1. If the level of uric acid in the blood increases significantly and you are undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia or lymphoma, you may have symptoms of kidney disease or gouty arthritis due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.
2. You may have a fever, chills, and fatigue if you have cancer. Tumor lysis syndrome will increase uric acid levels in your body.
3. You may have arthritis (gout), if uric acid crystals build up in the joint. You should note that gout can occur even when the level of uric acid is normal.
4. You have kidney problems (caused by kidney stones) or have problems urinating.

You may experience other symptoms not mentioned. If you have any questions about the signs of illness, consult your doctor.

When do you need to see a doctor?

If you have any of the above signs or symptoms or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Each person is different, so ask your doctor to choose the most appropriate option.

The cause to the illness

Causes of high uric acid levels (increased blood uric acid levels) may be primary (increased levels of uric acid due to purine separation) and secondary (high levels of uric acid due to a disease or other condition) . Sometimes, the body produces more uric acid than it can excrete.

Primary hyperuricemia: an increase in uric acid production from purine because the kidneys cannot filter uric acid in the blood, leading to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Secondary uric acid increase:

1. Some cancers or chemotherapy can increase the rate of dead cells, often due to chemotherapy. However, high levels of uric acid can occur before chemotherapy.
2. After chemotherapy, there is usually a rapid cell destruction and tumor lysis syndrome may occur. You may be at risk for tumor lysis syndrome if you have chemotherapy for some diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
3. Kidney disease can prevent you from filtering uric acid in your body, thereby increasing blood uric acid levels;
4. The use of drugs can increase the level of uric acid in the blood.
5. Endocrine or metabolic conditions, such as certain types of diabetes or acidosis can cause hyperuricemia.
6. Increasing levels of uric acid can cause kidney problems.

Some people may live for years with high levels of uric acid and this condition does not develop into gout or gouty arthritis. Only about 20% of people with elevated levels of uric acid develop gout, as some people with gout have low levels of uric acid in their blood.

Risk of getting

Who often suffers from hyperuricemia?

Hyperuricemia is very common, which can affect patients of all ages. The incidence of hyperuricemia has increased sharply since 1960. You can control this disease by reducing risk factors. Please consult your doctor for more details.

What factors increase the risk of developing hyperuricemia?

Anyone can get hyperuricemia, but it is more common in men than women and the risk increases with age. People of Pacific origin or African Americans are at higher risk.

Some risk factors can cause hyperuricemia:

1. Use alcohol.
2. Some drugs, especially medicines for heart disease.
3. Exposure to lead.
4. Exposure to pesticides.
5. Kidney disease.
6. High Blood Pressure.
7. High blood sugar level.
8. Hypothyroidism.
9. Fat.

You can control this disease by minimizing risk factors. Please consult your doctor for more details.

Effective treatment

The information provided does not replace the advice of health professionals. Always consult your doctor.

What medical techniques are used to diagnose hyperuricemia?

Your doctor may order a 24-hour urine sample if you see elevated uric acid levels in your blood.

The doctor may require and urine to measure creatinine levels, determine kidney function, as well as uric acid levels in the body.

The doctor will draw blood from the hand vein, usually inside the elbow or on the back of the hand. Uric acid is usually present in urine when you urinate. Your doctor may order a 24-hour urine sample if you see elevated uric acid levels in your blood.

It will then be repeated after you have a restricted purine diet to help determine if:

1. You are eating too many purine foods.
2. Your body is producing too much uric acid.
3. Your body does not emit uric acid.

If you have symptoms of gout, your doctor will test for any fluid that builds up in your joint. This is done by unplugging the fluid from the joint. The fluid sample will be sent to the laboratory to check for uric acid crystals. The presence of uric acid crystals is a sign of gout.

What methods are used to treat hyperuricemia?

Treatment of hyperuricemia depends on the cause. If hyperuricemia does not show symptoms, treatment should not be given. In this case, there are no proven benefits when treating uric acid reduction.

If hyperuricemia is caused by other underlying causes, you need to treat this condition.

Suitable living regime

What lifestyle habits help you limit the progression of hyperuricemia?

If you have high levels of uric acid in your blood and your doctor suspects you are at risk for gout, kidney stones, try a low-purine diet.

Purine-rich foods include:

1. All organ meats (liver), meat and meat extracts.
2. Yeast and yeast extracts (beer, alcoholic beverages).
3. Asparagus, spinach, beans, peas, lentils, oatmeal, cauliflower and mushrooms.

Foods with low purine content include:

1. Refined cereals - bread, pasta, flour, tapioca, pastry.
2. Milk and milk products, eggs.
3. Lettuce, tomato, green vegetables.
4. Creamy soup without meat.
5. Water, juice, carbonated drinks.
6. Peanut butter, fruits and nuts.

You should take medicine to treat hyperuricemia as directed. You avoid caffeine and alcohol because it can cause problems with uric acid and increase blood uric acid; Avoid taking thiazide diuretics (hydrochlortiazide) and loop diuretics. In addition, low-dose medications like niacin and aspirin (less than 3g per day) can make your uric acid levels worse. Do not take these medicines or aspirin unless directed by your doctor.

Primary hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder. Uric acid increases not only gout (gouty arthritis) but also increases the risk of cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases. Treatment of primary hyperuricemia includes medications that support uric acid excretion and limit the intake of high purine-containing foods. You should also limit or completely eliminate alcohol because it is also a source of raw materials to form uric acid.