Uric acid Quantitative in urine

Sample for Uric acid Quantitative

1. This test is done in the urine.
2. Collect urine for 24 hours.
   1. Discard the first sample (empty the urinary bladder), then collect all urine samples until 24 hours are completed.
   2. Also, add the last sample (empty the urinary bladder) to the container.
3. Do not refrigerate the urine; add NaOH (10 mL) to keep the urine alkaline.
   1. The urine will be stable at 22 °C to 24 °C for three days if there is no bacterial growth.

Indications for  Uric acid Quantitative

1. To find if kidney stones are due to high uric acid levels in the body.
2. Evaluates uric acid metabolism in gout.

It helps to evaluate the effect of uricosuric drugs.

Precautions for Uric acid Quantitative

1. Some drugs increase the uric acid level like:
   1. Salicylates.
   2. Diuretics.
   3. Vitamin C.
   4. Cytotoxic drugs are used to treat cancers (leukemias and lymphomas).
   5. Strenuous exercise.
   6. A diet high in purines.
2. Allopurinol decreases the uric acid level.

Pathophysiology of Uric acid Quantitative

1. Uric acid is the major product of catabolism of :
   1. Purine Nucleosides.
   2. Adenosine.
   3. Guanosine.
2. Nucleic acid precursors are purines, adenosine, and guanosine.
3. Dietary nucleic acid forms purines directly converted to uric acid.

4. Endogenous nucleic acid forms purines; these are excreted as uric acid into the urine.
5. Uric acid is readily filtered through the glomerulus.

6. Uric acid is absorbed + excreted by the kidney; only 6% to 12% of filtrate is uric acid in urine.
   1. Most of the uric acid is excreted by the kidney and a small amount by the intestinal tract.
   2. Normally 1/3 of the uric acid formed is degraded in the intestine by bacteria.
7. Excess of uric acid is related to dietary intake of purines or endogenous uric acid production.
8. Uric acid is more soluble at a pH of > 5.75.
   1. Uric acid is undissociated at a pH of < 5.75.
9. Most uric acid is excreted in the urine, and the rest passes out in the stool.

Clinically hyperuricemia may lead to gout.

1. This is also called gouty arthritis.
2. It appears in common sites in large toes, feet, ankles, knees, and elbows.
3. There is severe pain in the joints.
4. There is stiffness in the joints.
5. There are limited movements of the joints.
6. Joints are deformed.
7. There are redness and swelling of the joints.
8. There may be uric acid deposits called gouty tophi.
9. There are more chances for the formation of uric renal stones.

Normal Uric acid in urine/24 hours

Source 1

Source 2

• Urine = 250 to 750 mg/24 hours   or
  • 1.48 to 4.43 mmol/24 hours

Another source

• Men = 250 to 800 mg /24 hours
• Women = 250 to 750 mg /24 hours
• With a purine-free diet = <400 mg / 24 hours.
• With a high purine diet = <1000 mg / 24 hours.

Raised urine uric acid level (Uricosuria) is seen in:

1. Gout.
2. Renal calculi.
3. Cancers (widespread disease).
4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia.
5. Multiple myelomas.
6. Viral hepatitis.
7. High–purine diet.
8. Wilson’s disease.
9. Sickle cell anemia.
10. Polycythemia vera.

Decreased urine uric acid level seen in:

1. Long-term alcohol abuse.
2. Chronic glomerulonephritis (chronic kidney disease).
3. Lead poisoning.
4. Xanthinuria.
5. Folic acid deficiency.
6. Cytotoxic drugs.
7. Eclampsia.

Acidosis (ketotic or lactic).

Normal urine picture:

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