What is Urate and Uric Acid?
Urate is a biomarker used to measure the level of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is formed when the body breaks down substances called purines. Uric acid is excreted through your kidneys and intestines. By measuring the level of urate in the blood, you can get an indication of how well your kidneys are working and how the body manages the balance between production and breakdown of uric acid.
Elevated levels of uric acid?
A high level of uric acid in the blood can indicate hyperuricemia, which is usually associated with the disease gout, where crystals of uric acid form in the joints and cause pain and inflammation. Uric acid levels can also be elevated in other diseases and conditions, such as psoriasis, high blood pressure and heart failure.
What is gout?
Gout is a joint inflammation that can develop very quickly and occurs in attacks which can cause intense pain. Usually, oddly enough, the big toe is often affected first. The disease is caused when uric acid crystallizes and concentrates in the joints which in turn leads to swelling, stiffness and causes pain. Risk factors for gout can be high intake of alcohol or purine-rich foods. Treatment for gout includes drugs to reduce inflammation and to lower uric acid levels in the blood.
Low levels of uric acid?
Values that are too low rarely occur but are called hypouricemia and are caused by problems with the production and excretion of uric acid. Hypouricemia occurs with inflammation in the intestinal system, but is very rare.
What are purines?
Purines are chemical compounds that occur in the body's cells and in certain foods, for example liver, black pudding, kidney, herring, anchovies, fish roe and more. Purines are part of the structure of DNA and RNA, which are the genetic building blocks necessary for the body to function properly. Uric acid is produced to break down purines in the body.
