Purine And Uric Acid Metabolism Flashcards
Normal range for Uric acid for women
140-369 umol/l
Normal range for Uric acid for men
200-430 umol/l
Gout
High Uric acid levels in the blood cause urate/Uric acid crystals to deposit in joints
Crystals cause inflammation which then causes swelling, pain and redness
Solubility of Uric acid
Poorly soluble in plasma
The lower the pH the less soluble it becomes
pH and Uric acid solubility
Lower the pH, less soluble it becomes
What does Uric acid come from
Purines
Examples of purines
Adenine
Guanine
Hypoxanthine
Xanthine
Sources of purines
Diet
Breakdown of nucleotides from tissues
Synthesis in the body
How does Uric acid leave the body
Excreted in urine
Breakdown in gut
What percentage of Uric acid leaves the body via urine
70%
What percentage of Uric acid leaves the body via breakdown in gut
30%
Which populations is gout rare in
Children
Pre-menopausal women
Why is gout rarer in women
Oestrogen promoted Uric acid excretion in urine
Dietary purines
Meat
Offal - heart, liver and kidney
Seafood - mussels
Fish -herring and sardines
Oatmeal, soya and yeast extracts
Fructose
Risk factors for gout
Metabolic syndrome- obesity, raised triglycerides, raised blood pressure
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes
Alcohol- mainly beer, spirits and port wine
Reduced kidney function
Medications that are risk factors for gout
Thiazide diuretics
Low dose aspirin
Ciclosporin
Levodopa
Ethambutol
Pyrazinamide
Initial management of gout
Rest
Ice pack
Elevate affected joint
Anti-inflammatory medication- NSAID eg ibuprofen