Questions and Answers
What is the main source of uric acid production in the body?
Which of the following foods is high in purines?
What is the primary way that uric acid is removed from the body?
What is a potential complication of high uric acid levels in the body?
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Why is a uric acid test done?
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What is the principle of the assay used to determine uric acid levels?
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What is measured to determine uric acid concentration?
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What is a symptom of gout?
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What is the optimal temperature to incubate samples for the assay procedure?
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Which serum protein concentration level is considered normal for females?
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Which medication is recommended to prevent gout attacks?
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Which factor is NOT a common cause of hyperuricemia?
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What is the purpose of uricosuric agents in treating hyperuricemia?
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What is a key reason to avoid aspirin in the treatment of hyperuricemia?
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Which cuvette measurement is standard in the assay procedure?
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How long can the color of the samples remain stable according to the procedure?
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Study Notes
Uric Acid
- Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines, which are nitrogen-containing compounds found in the body in substances such as nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).
- Uric acid formation occurs in the liver.
Foods High in Purines
- Red meat, liver, seafood (especially salmon, shrimp, and sardines)
- Food and drinks with high fructose corn syrup, spinach, mushrooms, green peas, beans, and wheat germ
- Alcohol
Excretion of Uric Acid
- Most uric acid is removed by the kidneys
- The remainder is excreted in the stools
Increased Uric Acid Levels
- Can accumulate in the body and cause gout
- Can lead to kidney disease, as a result of deposition in the kidneys or kidney stone formation
- Can be due to either increased production, decreased elimination, or a combination of both
Symptoms of Gout
- Arthritis that causes pain, swelling, and redness in the joints
- Fatigue
- Renal issues, including kidney stones, weight loss, joint heaviness or sensitivity
Uric Acid Test
- Helps diagnose and monitor treatment of gout
- Checks to see if kidney stones may be caused by high uric acid levels in the body
- Checks to see if medicine that increases or decreases uric acid levels is working
- Checks uric acid levels in people who are taking chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Assay Principle
- Determined by enzymatic, colorimetric method with uricase and 4-aminoantipyrine
- The intensity of the color produced is directly proportional to uric acid concentration
- Measured by increasing absorbance at 500-550 nm
Procedure
- Assay conditions: wavelength 500-550 nm, cuvette 1 cm light path, temperature 37°C or 15-25°C
- Sample: serum or plasma without any preparation, fasting for 4 hours is better
- Mix and incubate for 5 min at 37°C or 10 min at room temperature
- Read absorbance of samples and standard against the blank
Calculation
- Total Protein concentration: expected value is 3.4-7.0 mg/dl for males and 2.4-6.0 mg/dl for females
Hyperuricemia
- Causes: purine-rich diet, obesity or metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism, certain medicines, excessive alcohol intake, genetics or familial, kidney disease, certain type of cancers
Treatment
- Manage symptoms of acute attacks
- Take one or more of the following medicine:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ketoprofen
- Colchicine prevents gout attacks
- Corticosteroids
- Prevent recurrent attacks:
- Uricosuric agents increase elimination of uric acid by the kidneys
- Allopurinol decreases production of uric acid by the body
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Description
A quiz on the determination of uric acid in serum, covering its production, sources, and related biochemistry concepts. Ideal for biochemistry students and professionals.
