Is hyperuricemia dangerous?

Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
Updated on December 15, 2024
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Hyperuricemia is generally diagnosed when the blood uric acid level in males exceeds 420 micromoles per liter and in females exceeds 360 micromoles per liter. Some patients with hyperuricemia are asymptomatic, but others may develop gouty arthritis, characterized by local joint redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and even limited mobility. Some patients may develop gouty nephropathy, leading to abnormal kidney function. There are also instances of patients developing tophi, which can cause joint deformity and even limited mobility. Therefore, if hyperuricemia is not controlled promptly, it poses certain risks and may lead to complications such as tophi, gouty arthritis, and gouty nephropathy.

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Written by Yang Li
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Can you eat vinegar if you have hyperuricemia?

It's not that you can't eat vinegar. Vinegar is an acidic substance. However, patients with hyperuricemia need to alkalize their urine to reduce uric acid and slightly alkalize the body's pH value, which means keeping it on the alkaline side within the normal range. In such cases, it is recommended to eat more alkaline foods. Alkaline foods facilitate the excretion of uric acid through urine and help lower blood uric acid levels. Of course, this does not mean that you cannot eat vinegar at all; you can consume it in moderation, but not excessively.

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Written by Chen Xie
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How is hyperuricemia treated?

The treatment of hyperuricemia mainly includes: First, improving lifestyle, including healthy eating with a low-purine diet, quitting smoking, drinking more water, exercising regularly, and controlling weight. Second, alkalinizing the urine using sodium bicarbonate to maintain urine pH between 6.2 and 6.9, which facilitates the excretion of uric acid. Third, avoiding medications that increase blood uric acid levels, such as diuretics, corticosteroids, and insulin, among others. Fourth, using medications that lower uric acid, including drugs that increase uric acid excretion, mainly benzbromarone and probenecid, and drugs that inhibit uric acid synthesis, such as allopurinol and febuxostat. The choice of medication has specific indications, contraindications, and side effects, and it is advised to use these medications under the guidance of a specialist and not to self-medicate.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of hyperuricemia?

Some patients with hyperuricemia are asymptomatic, while others may suffer from complications such as gouty arthritis, gouty nephropathy, and tophi. Gouty arthritis is very common clinically and is primarily characterized by localized joint redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The commonly affected joints include the first metatarsophalangeal joint, ankle joint, and wrist joint. In cases of gouty nephropathy, patients may exhibit high levels of uric acid and increased creatinine levels, which may manifest as frequent urination, nocturia, and swelling of the lower limbs. If gout crystals deposit in the joints, they can form tophi, leading to joint deformities and restricted movement.

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Written by Liang Yin
Endocrinology
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How to reduce high uric acid in hyperuricemia?

The treatment of hyperuricemia includes lifestyle intervention and medication. Lifestyle intervention involves controlling the total caloric intake of the diet, limiting the intake of high-purine foods, avoiding animal offal, shellfish, hot pots, and not consuming tofu, bean sprouts, and other soy products. Smoking and drinking alcohol should be prohibited. It is advocated to eat alkaline foods and choose melon-type vegetables. Appropriate exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, and aerobic dancing, should be performed. Weight control is necessary, and obese patients should lose weight. Secondly, medication should be used to lower uric acid levels. Options include drugs that promote the excretion of uric acid and drugs that inhibit the production of uric acid, while also alkalizing the urine.

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Is hyperuricemia contagious?

Hyperuricemia is not contagious. Hyperuricemia refers to a condition where the concentration of uric acid in the blood exceeds the normal upper limit. Typically, for males and post-menopausal females, a blood uric acid concentration greater than 420 µmol/L, or pre-menopausal females with more than 348 µmol/L, is considered hyperuricemia. Most severe cases of hyperuricemia are due to deficiencies in uric acid metabolism enzymes and fall under the category of liver metabolism disorders. Moreover, mild to moderate hyperuricemia is often associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and coronary heart disease, among others. It is a type of nucleic acid metabolic disease, and therefore, it is not contagious.