Cancer causes an increase in uric acid in the blood. Elevated uric acid

Uric acid(MK) consists of purine compounds and is formed in the liver from proteins that come from food and are synthesized by the enzyme xanthine oxidase. Excess uric acid is excreted in the urine by the kidneys and some is excreted in the feces, but a small percentage remains in the circulatory system.

Increased levels of uric acid in the blood are called hyperuricemia. This disease causes the formation of uric acid crystals. Then salts settle in joints, tendons, bones and tissues. This disease affects men more often than women.

Development of pathology

As long as everything works correctly, health remains normal. But sometimes malfunctions occur in the kidneys, so the body cannot completely get rid of excess protein substances. purine metabolism. Then parts of the uric acid crystallize and are transported throughout the body through the bloodstream.

This blood pollution occurs due to urinary disorders. excretory system and improper synthesis in the liver. deposited throughout the body, lingering in tissue nodules (tophi). A factor influencing the increase in this indicator may be food with a large number purine compounds or excessively intense physical activity. Such tophi are easy to notice; the hands, feet, and ears are affected. Sometimes a collection of tophi forms an ulcer. affect the joints and skeleton, this will lead to bone tissue disorders.

  • in children 120–300 mmol/l;
  • in women 160–320 mmol/l;
  • in men 200–420 mmol/l.

The level of uric acid in the blood of men and women constantly fluctuates; the levels are higher in the evening and lower in the morning. Fluctuations in these indicators depend on the amount of uric acid formed in the liver, as well as on the rate of its excretion through the kidneys, which can be the cause of various pathologies.

The normal output of sUA in urine is approximately 250–750 mg/day in women and men.

Elevated uric acid, causes

What are the symptoms, the reasons for the increase in uric acid in the blood, we will consider below.

More common causes of increased levels of uric acid in the blood occur during physiological surges:

  • excess protein in food;
  • increase sports loads, due to which changes in uric acid levels in men are much more common;
  • frequent improper observance and prolonged fasting, increased level occurs mainly in women;
  • food, drinks with an increased presence of purines;
  • medications (aspirin, furosemide) can also affect uric acid levels in the blood;
  • chemotherapy.

Another reason for increased uric acid in the blood are some pathological diseases:

  • Arterial hypertension of the second stage, the kidneys suffer, as a result of which the level of sUA becomes higher.
  • Kidney failure due to lead poisoning, polycystic kidney disease, acidosis, toxicosis during pregnancy are diseases that result in decreased excretion of the substance by the kidneys and provoke an increase in uric acid in the blood.
  • Gout – due to this disease, increased uric acid appears in the blood.
  • Increased cholesterol and lipoprotein levels.
  • Endocrinological problems: acromegaly, diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism, obesity.
  • Psoriasis, eczema.
  • Blood diseases ( hemolytic anemia, leukemia, polycythemia).

Therefore, competent and timely treatment of the underlying disease affects the increased content of uric acid. In less pronounced situations, it is required dietary food and therapeutic measures that cleanse the circulatory system.

The problem of nutrition deserves special attention; because of this, uric acid in the blood is increased.

High levels of purine compounds in foods:

  • canned food;
  • smoked meats
  • fried meat;
  • offal (beef and pork liver, kidneys);
  • mushrooms;
  • red wine and beer.

Manifestation of symptoms

Symptoms initial stage hyperuricemia is not clearly expressed and differs little from the manifestation of other concomitant diseases. In children, they are identified by red spots on the skin of the cheeks and forehead, arms, and chest. They itch and bother the child. Adults experience rapid fatigue. A person feels chronic fatigue. Visible sign The disease is characterized by the presence of stone deposits on the teeth. If tests reveal that uric acid in the urine and blood is increased, treatment for hyperuricemia and concomitant illness should be started immediately.

If the indicator is enhanced, then the following appears:

  • severe pain in the joints due to the deposition of salt crystals;
  • reddish spots (knees, elbows);
  • little urine is produced and excreted;
  • suspicious spots and ulcers appear on the skin;
  • blood pressure rises and falls;
  • cardiac arrhythmia.

Treatment of the disease is prescribed when symptoms appear, and also if a test for uric acid has been done. Before this, a doctor-prescribed diet and lifestyle changes are applied.

A high percentage of uric acid in urine and blood is harmful to the patient:

  • urates form tophi in cartilage, bones, connective tissues(gout);
  • urates accumulating in the kidneys can cause nephropathy, and then cause renal failure;
  • crystals that enter the kidney organs with uric acid urine will cause kidney stones;
  • if urates are present in the urinary organs, an infection develops (cystitis) and pain is felt in the groin area, lower back, stomach;
  • urate deposits in the heart muscles will provoke myocardial infarction.

Analyzes

When health deteriorates, the patient is referred for blood biochemistry. To make the diagnosis as reliable as possible, you should:

  • take the test in the morning on an empty stomach;
  • do not drink alcohol the day before the test;
  • the day before, adhere to a diet with a low presence of purine in foods;
  • protect yourself from stress and emotional stress.

The decrypted data will show the results of a blood test for uric acid.

Therapeutic diet

Hyperuricemia must be treated comprehensively. The ideal formula to bring health back to normal is a specialized diet, medications, and folk remedies. When uric acid is slightly elevated, corrective dietary nutrition is prescribed. However, diet is a fundamental part of healing.

Be sure to exclude food from high content purina:

  • fatty, especially fried meat products;
  • young meat (veal, chicken);
  • smoked meats;
  • canned food;
  • sausages;
  • rich broths (meat, fish);
  • pickled vegetables;
  • spicy seasonings;
  • sweets and confectionery;
  • store-bought juice and sweet soda;
  • alcohol (red wine, beer).

It is also necessary to reduce consumption:

  • coffee, black tea;
  • cocoa, chocolate;
  • beans, lentils, peas;
  • mushrooms;
  • tomatoes;
  • spinach, rhubarb, sorrel;
  • Brussels sprouts.

It is necessary to include in the diet:

  • milk and fermented milk products;
  • fruits (apples, pears, apricots, citrus fruits);
  • vegetables (cucumbers, white cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, beets, potatoes);

  • bran bread;
  • cereals;
  • watermelons;
  • boiled or baked lean meat (turkey, rabbit, chicken);
  • vegetable oils;
  • nuts;
  • eggs;
  • juices from fresh vegetables and fruits diluted with water;
  • fruit drink;

Do not forget about the drinking regime of 1.5–2 liters per day. Compliance with the diet is mandatory until the analysis shows that uric acid is normal.

Medication prescription

Medications are prescribed if the diet does not help lower sUA levels and reduce symptoms strictly under the supervision of a doctor. To reduce hyperuricemia, the following drugs are prescribed:

  • Allopurinol - block the production of enzymes that synthesize UA in the liver.
  • Colchicine – reduces pain, inhibits bleeding.
  • Diuretics - accelerates the release of uric acid in the urine; caution should be exercised when taking them, they can increase the readings of uric acid in the blood.
  • Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs– reduce pain, remove inflammation.
  • Benzobromarone - normalizes the functioning of the kidneys, inhibits the rate of absorption of uric acid.
  • Sulfinpyrazone - is able to increase the secretion of sUA through the urinary tract; it is prescribed at the beginning of gout.
  • Etamide - does not allow the return of uric acid into the kidney tubules, as a result, the levels in the blood decrease.
  • Diacarb - resolves urates and prevents their appearance.

The use of traditional methods for illness

Treatment using folk remedies takes longer. Taking decoctions of herbs and berries can provoke the breakdown of urate crystals and the excretion of uric acid. For this use:

  • birch leaves and buds;
  • nettle;
  • calendula;
  • lingonberry foliage;
  • currant foliage;
  • strawberry foliage;
  • knotweed grass;
  • blueberries.

For joint complications, foot baths made from chamomile, sage and calendula are used.

Uric acid in the blood: norms and deviations, why it increases, diet to reduce

It would seem that a substance such as uric acid is difficult to combine with blood. In urine it’s a different matter, that’s where it belongs. Meanwhile, various metabolic processes are constantly taking place in the body with the formation of salts, acids, alkalis and other chemical compounds which are excreted in urine and gastrointestinal tract from the body, entering there from the bloodstream.

Uric acid (UA) is also present in the blood and is formed in small quantities from purine bases. Necessary for the body purine bases mainly come from outside, from food products, and are used in the synthesis of nucleic acids, although they are also produced by the body in some quantities. As for uric acid, it is the end product of purine metabolism and, in general, is not needed by the body. Its elevated level (hyperuricemia) indicates a violation of purine metabolism and can threaten the deposition of unnecessary salts in joints and other tissues, causing not only discomfort, but also serious illnesses.

Uric acid level and increased concentration

The level of uric acid in the blood of men should not exceed 7.0 mg/dl (70.0 mg/l) or be in the range of 0.24 - 0.50 mmol/l. In women, the norm is slightly lower - up to 5.7 mg/dl (57 mg/l) or 0.16 - 0.44 mmol/l, respectively.

The UA formed during purine metabolism must dissolve in the plasma in order to subsequently leave through the kidneys, but plasma cannot dissolve more than 0.42 mmol/l of uric acid. Normally, 2.36–5.90 mmol/day (250–750 mg/day) is removed from the body in urine.

With his high concentration uric acid forms a salt (sodium urate), which is deposited in tophi (peculiar nodules) in various types tissues with affinity for MK. Most often, tophi can be observed on ears, hands, feet, but favorite places are the surfaces of the joints (elbow, ankle) and tendon sheaths. IN in rare cases they are capable of merging and forming ulcers, from which urate crystals emerge as a white dry mass. Sometimes urates are found in the bursae, causing inflammation, pain, and limited mobility (synovitis). Uric acid salts can be found in bones with the development of destructive changes in bone tissue.

The level of uric acid in the blood depends on its production during purine metabolism, glomerular filtration and reabsorption, as well as tubular secretion. More often increased concentration MK is a consequence of poor nutrition, especially for people with a hereditary pathology (autosomal dominant or X-linked fermentopathy), in which the production of uric acid in the body increases or its excretion slows down. Genetically determined hyperuricemia is called primary, secondary stems from a number of other pathological conditions or is formed under the influence of lifestyle.

Thus, we can conclude that The causes of increased uric acid in the blood (excessive production or delayed excretion) are:

  • Genetic factor;
  • Poor nutrition;
  • Renal failure (impaired glomerular filtration, decreased tubular secretion - UA does not pass from the bloodstream into the urine);
  • Accelerated nucleotide metabolism (lympho- and myeloproliferative diseases, hemolytic).
  • Application salicylic drugs And .

The main reasons for the increase...

Medicine calls one of the reasons for the increase in uric acid in the blood poor nutrition, namely, consuming an unreasonable amount of foods that accumulate purine substances. These are smoked products (fish and meat), canned food (especially sprats), beef and pork liver, kidneys, fried meat dishes, mushrooms and all sorts of other goodies. Big love to these products leads to the fact that necessary for the body purine bases are absorbed, and the final product, uric acid, turns out to be unnecessary.

It should be noted that products of animal origin, which play an important role in increasing the concentration of uric acid, since they carry purine bases, usually contain large amounts cholesterol. Being carried away by such favorite dishes, without observing measures, a person can deal a double blow to his body.

A diet low in purines consists of dairy products, pears and apples, cucumbers (not pickled, of course), berries, potatoes and other vegetables in fresh. Canning, frying or any kind of “witchcraft” over semi-finished products noticeably worsens the quality of food in this regard (the content of purines in food and the accumulation of uric acid in the body).

...And the main manifestations

Excess uric acid is carried throughout the body, where the expression of its behavior can have several options:

  1. Urate crystals are deposited and form microtophi in cartilage, bone and connective tissues, causing gouty diseases. Urates accumulated in cartilage are often released from tophi. This is usually preceded by exposure to factors that provoke hyperuricemia, for example, a new supply of purines and, accordingly, uric acid. Salt crystals are taken up by leukocytes (phagocytosis) and are found in synovial fluid joints (synovitis). This is an acute attack gouty arthritis .
  2. Urates entering the kidneys can be deposited in the interstitial renal tissue and lead to the formation of gouty nephropathy, and then renal failure. The first symptoms of the disease can be considered a permanently low specific gravity of urine with the appearance of protein in it and an increase blood pressure(arterial hypertension), subsequently changes in the organs of the excretory system occur, and pyelonephritis develops. The completion of the process is considered to be the formation renal failure.
  3. Increased uric acid content, formation of salts(urates and calcium stones) with its retention in the kidneys + increased acidity urine in most cases leads to the development kidney stone disease.

All movements and transformations of uric acid that determine its behavior as a whole can be interconnected or exist in isolation (depending on who it is).

Uric acid and gout

When talking about purines, uric acid, diet, it is impossible to ignore this unpleasant illness, How gout. In most cases, it is associated with MK, and besides, it is difficult to call it rare.

Gout predominantly develops in mature males and sometimes runs in families. Elevated levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia) are observed long before symptoms of the disease appear.

The first attack of gout is also bright clinical picture no different, just sick thumb some leg, and after five days the person again feels completely healthy and forgets about this annoying misunderstanding. The following attack can appear after a long period of time and is more pronounced:

Treating the disease is not easy, and sometimes it is not harmless to the body as a whole. Therapy aimed at manifestation pathological changes includes:

  1. At acute attack– colchicine, which reduces the intensity of pain, but tends to accumulate in white blood cells, preventing their movement and phagocytosis, and, consequently, participation in the inflammatory process. Colchicine inhibits hematopoiesis;
  2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs that have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, but negatively affect the digestive tract;
  3. Diacarb prevents stone formation (participates in their dissolution);
  4. Anti-gout drugs probenecid and sulfinpyrazone promote increased excretion of sUA in the urine, but are used with caution if there are changes in urinary tract, in parallel, high fluid intake, diacarb and alkalizing drugs are prescribed. Allopurinol reduces the production of uric acid, promotes the reverse development of tophi and the disappearance of other symptoms of gout, therefore, probably, this drug is one of the best means treatment of gout.

The patient can significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment if he takes on a diet containing a minimum amount of purines (only for the needs of the body, and not for accumulation).

Diet for hyperuricemia

Low-calorie diet (table No. 5 is best if the patient is okay with his weight), meat and fish - without fanaticism, 300 grams per week and no more. This will help the patient reduce uric acid in the blood, live a full life, without suffering from attacks of gouty arthritis. Patients with signs of this disease who have overweight, it is recommended to use table No. 8, remembering to deload every week, but remember that complete fasting is prohibited. Lack of food at the very beginning of the diet will quickly raise the level of sUA and exacerbate the process. But about additional income ascorbic acid and B vitamins should be seriously considered.

All days while the exacerbation of the disease lasts should proceed without eating meat and fish dishes. Food should not be solid; however, it is better to consume it in liquid form (milk, fruit jelly and compotes, juices from fruits and vegetables, soups with vegetable broth, porridge “mush”). In addition, the patient should drink a lot (at least 2 liters per day).

It should be borne in mind that a significant amount of purine bases is found in such delicacies as:

On the contrary, the minimum concentration of purines is observed in:

This short list products that are prohibited or allowed for patients who have detected the first signs of gout and elevated uric acid in a blood test. The second part of the list (milk, vegetables and fruits) will help reduce uric acid in the blood.

Uric acid is reduced. What could this mean?

Uric acid in the blood is reduced, first of all, when using anti-gout drugs, which is absolutely natural, because they reduce the synthesis of uric acid.

In addition, the cause of a decrease in uric acid levels can be a decrease in tubular reabsorption, a hereditary decrease in UA production, and in rare cases, hepatitis and anemia.

Meanwhile, reduced level the final product of purine metabolism (as well as increased) in urine is associated with a wider range of pathological conditions, however, urine analysis for UA content is not so common; it is usually of interest to specialists dealing with a specific problem. It is unlikely to be useful for self-diagnosis for patients.

Video: uric acid in joints, doctor’s opinion

Often, when you go to the doctor and get tested, you can hear that you have elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, or, in other words, hyperuricemia. But what does this mean, why does this happen, how can it affect health, and how can this indicator be lowered?

Where does uric acid come from?

The urinary system is a good mechanism that cleanses the body of residues metabolic processes. If all the organs in this area work harmoniously, we can avoid other related diseases. But sometimes in this system the kidneys fail, and the body ceases to sufficiently clear itself of uric acid (the result of purine and protein metabolism). These particles, which were not excreted in time with urine, enter the blood and spread to all parts of our body (joints, kidneys, etc.).

Accumulating in large quantities, they crystallize in internal organs and cause a number of diseases. So, after passing certain tests, elevated uric acid may be detected in the blood. The reasons for this lie in malfunctions of the urinary system. But it is worth noting that increased synthesis of uric acid in the liver area can also be to blame. This process is often affected by foods rich in purine compounds. But what exactly factors can cause blood “contamination”?

Elevated uric acid: causes of malfunctions in the body

Poor eating habits and medications can affect uric acid levels. In particular, these are:

  • Prolonged diets, during which the excretory functions of the kidneys gradually fail.
  • Beer and red wine are full of purines, which increase uric acid levels, so drinking alcohol affects kidney function.
  • Some medications, for example, Aspirin, Furosemide and others.
  • Regular consumption of meat, fish, offal - everything that is rich in purines.
  • Increased uric acid in the blood also occurs due to intense sports and excessive physical activity, as they lead to increased protein breakdown.

Diseases that lead to hyperuricemia

But there are diseases that are inextricably linked with an increase in uric acid, or against the background of which this pathology usually develops:


Of course, these are not the only clinical factors that lead to elevated uric acid in the blood, but those listed are the most common. It is worth noting that in some people hyperuricemia may occur for no reason that could be identified by specialists. In this case, doctors explain this pathology as an independent factor that increases the likelihood of death.

Symptoms of hyperuricemia

But by what signs can you determine that uric acid is elevated? Symptoms may vary from person to person and are generally not attributed to hyperuricemia. Most often, changes in blood content are accompanied by fatigue or chronic fatigue and the formation of tartar. If hyperurecemia has a concomitant disease (gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.), it manifests itself in symptoms characteristic of this pathology.

IN childhood An increase in uric acid can be determined by the fact that diathesis bright red spots appear on the hands and/or cheeks.

Analysis for determining hyperuricemia

To accurately determine whether you have high uric acid in your body, you need to do a blood test. To obtain accurate results, three days before donating the biomaterial, you need to adhere to a diet in which alcohol and protein products are excluded completely. You should also stop eating 8 hours before the test. Venous blood is taken for examination.

The following doctors can prescribe a referral: urologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, nephrologist.

Depending on the gender and age of the person it is calculated normal level uric acid levels in the blood. So, in children under 14 years of age, this figure should be in the range of 120-320 µmol/l.

For men under 60 years old - from 250 to 400 µmol/l, from 60 years old - from 250 to 480.

The indicator for women under 60 years old is from 200 to 300 µmol/l, from 60 years old - from 210 to 430.

It is worth noting that not only high uric acid is harmful to health, but also its low level.

How to normalize indicators

There are three methods that are used to remove uric acid from the body. These are medicines folk recipes and proper nutrition. It is best if you address the problem comprehensively. But in any case, if uric acid is elevated, the diet is necessary measure- it speeds up recovery. Therefore, experts first of all recommend paying attention to nutrition.

Proper nutrition when sick

The first thing such a diet requires is a rejection of over-salted, fatty, pickled, smoked, meat broths, fried, and canned foods. You should also limit your use table salt up to 7 grams per day. If you have high uric acid, you will have to give up foods rich in proteins and purines. These include fatty fish, meat, sausage, liver, kidneys, tongue, chocolate, coffee, legumes, mushrooms. You will also have to exclude sweets, butter and puff pastry. Vegetables that are not suitable include: sorrel, spinach, grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, turnips, cauliflower. Alcohol is also not allowed, especially beer and wine. Very rarely you can drink vodka in small quantities. Strong black or green tea excluded from the diet.

The sick person should be given priority fermented milk products. For example, low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream. Eggs are allowed daily, but no more than one per day. You can eat potatoes lean fish in boiled form, especially lean on vegetables and fruits (apples, pears, apricots, plums, strawberries, cherries). In this situation, it is useful to consume watermelons, which help cleanse the body of uric acid. It is better to buy bran bread.

Once a week you need to organize fasting days and use only kefir.

If uric acid is elevated, you should definitely drink clean water in large quantities. Compotes, juices, and rosehip decoction will also be beneficial. The attending physician can explain in more detail all the subtleties regarding such a diet.

Traditional recipes for hyperuricemia

Often, even doctors resort to the advice of herbalists if uric acid in the blood is elevated. Treatment folk remedies could be a good addition to proper nutrition. Here are a few decoctions that are easy to prepare (you need to take them for at least a month).

  • Leave 20 grams of lingonberry leaves in boiling water for half an hour (1 cup). Take a tablespoon three times a day.
  • Chop birch leaves, 2 tbsp. spoons of greens pour two glasses of water. Place on the stove and cook for 10 minutes. Set aside and wait half an hour. Take 1/4 cup of the strained solution with meals.
  • Chop the pear sprigs well, 1 tbsp. l. pour a glass of water. Place the container on water bath and hold for another 5 minutes. Leave for an hour. Divide one glass into 4 parts and take throughout the day.
  • Steam an umbrella of wild carrot seeds in a glass of boiling water. Take in the same way as a decoction of pear branches.
  • Foot baths are made from the herbs sage, chamomile or calendula.

Elevated uric acid: treatment with medications

Treatment with drugs should only be carried out as prescribed by a doctor. Medication method removal of uric acid is carried out under the supervision of a specialist who will regularly prescribe appropriate tests.

To cleanse the body, the doctor prescribes diuretics which remove uric acid. Next, medications are prescribed to inhibit the synthesis of this product, usually this is “Allopurinol” or its analogues. To achieve the effect it is required strict adherence medication regimen for four weeks or more. The doctor may also consider it necessary to prescribe prophylactic drugs, for example, "Koltsikhin".

Uric acid enters the bloodstream after the breakdown of purine bases. It will help to determine its content biochemical analysis blood. If uric acid levels are elevated, this indicates that various pathologies are developing in the body.

What is uric acid needed for? It activates and enhances the action of adrenaline and norepinephrine, thus stimulating the work of the central nervous system. Thanks to the content sodium salt, the substance acts as the strongest antioxidant, which prevents cells from being reborn.

Contentthis substance is controlled at the genetic level, that is, its level is inherited. Persons whose blood tests showed elevated levels of the substance are characterized by excessive activity and creative inclinations. What are the standards for its content? The substance is measured in micromoles/liter. Standards: for women - 160-320, for men - 200-420, for children - 120-300. Its excess can be excreted from the body through the kidneys and with feces.

If the normal values ​​are exceeded, then this condition is called hyperuricemia. According to medical data, this condition is more often observed in males. Hyperuricemia can be primary or secondary. If pathological condition is primary or idiopathic, the disease is hereditary in nature, the causes of which are associated with disorders of purine metabolism. This type pathology is extremely rare. In secondary hyperuricemia, high levels of the substance are associated with organ pathology or a disruption of its metabolism in the liver.

Why does the blood test change? The main reasons that can cause an excess of a substance in the body:

  • taking medications;
  • kidney disease;
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • lifestyle.

To pathologies endocrine system includes: acromegaly, hypoparathyroidism and diabetes mellitus. In these diseases, biochemical analysis will show high levels of calcium and glucose. A person’s lifestyle plays an important role. Exercise increase renal excretion and promote tissue breakdown. The causes of hyperuricemia are associated with strict diets and prolonged fasting, as well as the consumption of foods containing purine.

An increase in acid in the blood is observed if the patient has been diagnosed with inflammatory process V gallbladder, infectious diseases internal organs, allergic or oncological diseases, dermatological diseases. Causal factor Hyperuricemia may include severe toxicosis during pregnancy and alcohol poisoning.

Clinical picture

How does elevated uric acid levels manifest? Clinical symptoms, which indicate the presence of this pathology in the body, manifest themselves in the form of diseases different organs. If the patient’s pathology is hereditary in nature, then it manifests itself in the form of diathesis or psoriasis. Large spots appear on the face, neck, shoulders or décolleté pink color. Such formations itch and bother a person. Over time, such rashes begin to become wet and release fluid.

If treatment is not started, there is a high probability of developing an infection. These symptoms require immediate treatment, adjustments in diet and lifestyle.

In people over 50 years of age, increased uric acid in the blood manifests itself in the form of joint pain. As a rule, symptoms worsen at night. Most often, patients complain about painful sensations in the feet, knees, elbows, shoulders and wrist area. Painful sensations appear even with slight movement. Diseased joints swell and become deformed. On skin redness occurs.

If urate accumulates in the urinary system, the patient may complain of shooting in the groin and lower abdomen. These symptoms may indicate infectious disease(cystitis). When stones form, the patient experiences renal colic.

High urate deposition in the heart muscle or adrenal glands can trigger a heart attack or hypertension. Deposition of salts of the substance is detected during examination oral cavity dentist. The patient has a deposit of “tartar”, which can cause inflammation of the gums. If uric acid in the blood is elevated, this can manifest itself in the form of lethargy, insomnia and fatigue.

Treatment methods

If the level of the substance in the blood serum exceeds the norm, then complex treatment can be carried out. At drug treatment doctors prescribe:

  • diuretics;
  • allopurinol;
  • coltsikhin.

Diuretics (Lasix or Furosemide) remove excess acid from the body. A decrease in the production of uric acid occurs due to Allopurinol. Kolciquin can be prescribed for both medicinal and for preventive purposes. The patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory, diuretic and painkillers. If a substance in the blood rises against the background concomitant disease, then doctors prescribe appropriate treatment on an individual basis and in a strict dosage.

If the analysis of the biomaterial confirms the presence of hyperuricemia, then doctors prescribe therapeutic diet, which will allow you to return to full life and reduce unpleasant symptoms. The diet does not imply starvation. Complete absence Eating will only worsen the patient's condition.

If it is necessary to reduce the acid level, then meat and fish dishes should be excluded from the diet, then the analysis will show normal result. Smoked, fatty and fried foods are prohibited. You will have to temporarily give up mushrooms, canned food, spinach, Brussels sprouts, as well as coffee and cocoa. Food should not be too hard or tough. You are allowed to eat fruits, vegetables, soups, and cereals.

Dairy products are also beneficial. Kefir, fermented baked milk, and whey contain a minimal concentration of purines. Dairy products should not be fatty. You can also eat nuts, bread products, eggs, and all types of cereals. Special attention should be given to liquid. You need to drink at least 2 liters per day. This can be dairy products (milk, kefir), as well as tea or mineral water.

Diet is not the main treatment, it is used as an auxiliary measure. In order for the blood test to be good, you must follow all medical recommendations. To avoid the consequences of hyperuricemia, people over 40 years of age need to have a blood test for uric acid levels once a year. Regular examination will allow you to detect a decrease or increase in this substance in the blood in time and take the necessary measures.

Uric acid– a metabolite of nitrogen (purine) metabolism, a breakdown product of purines, which is always present in a certain amountin the human body and animals.

Uric acid is produced in the liver, contained in the lymph and blood plasma in the form of sodium salts (urates) and excreted by the kidneys.

The salt concentration approaches saturated solution, therefore, in case of exceeding normal concentration urates crystallize easily. Crystals sodium salts uric acid may fall out in joint fluid, form hard stones (sand, stones) in the kidneys and bladder.

State high content uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia) initially occurs unnoticed by a person. At this stage, hyperuricemia can be detected by a complete blood test for other diseases.

Uric acid levels vary slightly depending on the gender and age of the person (µmol/l):

  • children under 14 years old – 120 – 320;
  • women – 150 – 350;
  • men – 210 – 420.

After 60–65 years, normal values ​​in men and women become approximately the same: from 210 (F) 250 (M) to 480 (F, M) µmol/l.

Uric acid levels in womenlower than in men, due to the relatively lower content in the body muscle tissue and less need for proteins from food. During physical activity, accompanied by the destruction of protein molecules of muscle tissue, women produce correspondingly less uric acid.

If the kidneys cannot cope with the excretion of excess urates, the salts begin to crystallize in the joints, causing gouty arthritis; in the kidneys, causing gouty nephropathy. Urates can also be deposited under the skin, forming nodules (tophi). Most often, nodules are found on the ears, elbows, and feet.

Gout metabolic disease, which consists of crystallization of salts uric acid in various tissues of the body.

To diagnose gout, a blood test is performed to determine the content of uric acid, as well as an examination under a microscope of the contents of the tophi and synovial fluid from the diseased joint for the presence of a crystalline component.

Possible causes of increased concentrations of uric acid in the blood

Hyperuricemia is distinguished between primary and secondary.

  • Primary - metabolic disordercaused by overproduction uric acid liver while maintaining normal renal excretory function. May be caused by:
  1. taking certain medications (furosemide, aspirin, theophylline, adrenaline);
  2. diet with excessive consumption of purine-rich foods (meat, organ meats, meat broths, some types of fish, legumes, mushrooms);
  3. frequent consumption of red wine and beer;
  4. long-term protein diets to lose weight;
  5. long fasting due to increased protein breakdown, including with a low-calorie diet for the purpose of losing weight;
  6. excessive physical activity accompanied by the breakdown of muscle tissue proteins;
  7. episodic state of dehydration;
  8. hereditary predisposition, which is clearly visible in a number of cases.
  • Secondary - hyperuricemia is caused by a disease or pathology:
  1. kidney diseases;
  2. some hematological diseases;
  3. products of protein breakdown of cells after radiation therapy;
  4. malignant neoplasms;
  5. destruction of muscle tissue during fasting;
  6. infectious diseases;
  7. liver diseases;
  8. acidosis (disturbance of acid - alkaline balance body towards acidification, colloquially “acetone”);
  9. alcohol intoxication;
  10. taking certain medications (anti-tuberculosis drugs, aspirin, cytostatics).

An increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood is promoted by metabolic syndrome, characterized by high level blood sugar, free fatty acids(lipids) and low-density lipoproteins (“ bad cholesterol"), which also disrupts the purine balance. People with metabolic syndrome usually have abdominal (belly fat) obesity, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis.

The classic, typical image of a gout patient is depicted in paintings and fiction: A middle-aged man with a big belly and a red face sits over a bottle of wine and a hearty meat lunch, nursing a leg with a swollen metatarsophalangeal joint. This often happens.

Excess uric acidmay be episodic - after eating purine-rich foods, physical activity, a consequence of protein or low calorie diet, stress. Therefore, if the analysis showed hyperuricemia, it should be repeated after a few days, excluding provoking factors (alcohol, protein-rich foods, physical overload).

You need to take the test on an empty stomach, before taking medications. Take a urine test, it informatively reveals the condition of the kidneys. If you suspect urolithiasis, you need to do an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder.

Symptoms of increased uric acid levels

Hyperuricemia is initially asymptomatic. Moreover, for many people it for many years does not lead to crystallization of urates and remains a risk factor. But if the crystallization process has begun, as deposits of excess salts grow, the following may occur:

  • pain in the joints, in one or two at the same time (metatarsophalangeal joint, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder). Inflammation of the joints is usually asymmetrical - in contrast, for example, to deforming arthrosis, which can cause similar symptoms. The joint swells, is hot to the touch, the skin is hyperemic. This classic form of gouty arthritis is observed in men. In different statistical samples, the frequency of gouty joint damage ranges from 5 to 50 per 1000 men and from 1 to 9 per 1000 women;
  • when urates are deposited in the kidneys, pain occurs in the lower back, when moving hard stones formed by urates or blockage of the ureter - sharp pains(colic), blood appears in the urine;
  • with the growth of stones - urates in the bladder - urination disorders, cystitis;
  • observed more often in children skin manifestations, which can easily be mistaken for allergic diathesis - multiple itching pink spots on the cheeks, forehead, chest;
  • increased formation of tartar;
  • penchant for arterial hypertension, pressure surges.

It should be noted that the reduceduric acid level in bloodalso abnormal. Uric acid stimulates brain function, activates the action of norepinephrine and adrenaline, and is an antioxidant.

How to get rid of excess uric acid

First of all, you need to adjust your diet, making it the basis:

  • vegetables (except spinach, sorrel, Brussels sprouts), fruits (except bananas);
  • fermented milk products (except cheese) - kefir, yogurt, yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese;
  • whole grain porridge;
  • lean boiled meat, boiled fish– no more than 3 times a week.

Cannot be consumedproducts containing many purines:

  • fatty meat, offal (kidneys, liver, brains, tongue);
  • sausages, usually containing excess fat, salt, soy;
  • legumes (beans, peas, lentils, soybeans);
  • mushrooms;
  • alcoholic drinks (primarily red wines, cognac and beer, containing uric acid precursors).

Minimize:

  • cheese, butter;
  • coffee, black tea;
  • cocoa, chocolate.

It is important to drink enough liquid, including juices, compotes, rosehip decoction, green tea with lemon, and alkaline mineral water.

After just 2 weeks of such a diet, the level of uric acid in the blood should decrease. If a person has a hereditary tendency to increased production of uric acid, such a diet should be constantly followed. Elevateduric acid metabolismhas and positive side– people with high synthesis are smart, well-educated, have quick reactions, Alzheimer's disease almost never occurs in their old age.

Drug treatment

If in the backgrounddiet uric acidin the blood is still elevated, after additional examinations Drug treatment may be prescribed:

  • diuretics (not all and not everyone - in some cases diuretics can increase the concentration of uric acid in the blood);
  • allopurinol - inhibiting the action of the enzyme xanthine oxidase, slows downformation of uric acidin the liver (indications: hyperuricemia not controlled by diet, gout, urolithiasis, secondary hyperuricemia of various etiologies);
  • benzobromarone - inhibits the reabsorption of uric acid in the kidney tubules, inhibits the action of enzymes involved in the synthesis of purines (indications - hyperuricemia, gout);
  • etamide - increases the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys, preventing its reabsorption (indications - gout, polyarthritis, urolithiasis).

Not all drugs used are listed here, but only the directions of their effect are indicated. In each specific case, the doctor selects the optimal drug.

It is important to maintain a normal balance of uric acid in the body, which is quite possible with balanced diet, correct drinking regime, a reasonable lifestyle and periodic monitoring of its content.