Diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia

Abstract

Uric acid is a product of human purine metabolism. The production and excretion of uric acid per day in the body maintains dynamic balance basically under normal circumstances, and any factor that affects formation and (or) excretion of uric acid can lead to increased serum uric acid level. The international diagnostic criteria of hyperuricemia (HUA) is defined as serum uric acid ＞ 420 μmol/L ( 7 mg/dl) in male, ＞357 μmol/L (6 mg/dl) in female,and no gout attack is called asymptomatic HUA. There are about 5%-12% of patients with HUA will eventually develop into gout. The treatment of asymptomatic HUA includes improving lifestyle, controlling serum uric acid-related metabolic risk factors aggressively, avoiding application of drugs which increased serum uric acid, and alkaline urine. The drugs which can reduce the blood uric acid include drugs that increased uric acid excretion, inhibited uric acid synthetic, auxiliary drugs,and traditional Chinese medicine. The goal of reducing uric acid is to promote crystal dissolution and prevent crystal formation,and serum uric acid should be ＜357 μmol/L (6 mg/dl). Key words: Uric acid; Hyperuricemia; Diagnosis; Treatment