Uricemia is a parameter that is identified through a laboratory test performed on a fasting blood sample. It detects the amount of uric acid present in the bloodstream. What is uricaemia
As I said, uricaemia is the value that refers to the amount of uric acid in the blood. This substance is considered a waste product. It is generated in the liver and filtered by the kidneys following the breakdown of purines. What is uric acid
Uric acid is mostly derived from the metabolization of purines. The latter are nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids (DNA) – often known as adenine and guanine. In particular, it is found in the cell nucleus of foods of animal and plant origin. Our body obtains them following the digestion of fish, meat, mushrooms, fructose, alcohol, fried foods, coffee, shellfish, offal and legumes.
- Did you know…
Adenine and guanine are believed to be nitrogenous bases, considered together with pyrimidines thiamine and cytosine or our DNA building blocks. Following cell turnover, the body produces many waste products, of which one of the most important is uric acid. Therefore it is important to underline that the uric acid deriving from the diet is minimal, compared to that produced endogenously (or internally).
The journey inside our body
Uric acid is eliminated for the most part thanks to the filtration of the kidneys, and therefore excreted in the urine. But a small amount remains in the intestine to be transformed by our bacterial flora and finally eliminated through the faeces.
- Foods with a reduced purine content
- Refined carbohydrates
- Latte
- Egg
- Cheeses
- Green leafy vegetables (excluding spinach)
- Tomatoes
- Fruits (especially cherries)
- Oil seeds
- Dried fruit
What is uric acid
for The question arises: what is uric acid for if it is then eliminated through faeces and urine
According to some recent theories its function is to act as an antioxidant by strengthening the immune response. While modest quantities are therefore beneficial, an excess could cause damage to our body. Because there are changes in blood uricaemia
If uric acid is totally excreted with feces and urine, one wonders why anomalies can occur. The reason is obvious: under normal conditions, about 650 mg of uric acid is excreted through the body. But if for some reason – in particular due to reduced kidney function – our body is unable to eliminate these quantities, uric acid accumulates day by day, creating various problems or pathologies. How is the uricaemia test performed? The uricemia
values ​​can be measured by means of a simple blood test, which in this case must be performed strictly on an empty stomach.
- Causes of high uric acid
- Renal pathologies
- Alcoholism
- Abuse of nerve drinks (coffee, tea, chocolate)
- Accumulation of glycogen (glycogenosis)
- Psoriasis
- Diabetes
- Use of chemotherapy drugs (due to increased cell turnover)
- Tumors
Normal
blood urea values ​​Normal blood urea values ​​are 2.5-7 mg / dl. The woman could be suffering from high uricaemia if the values ​​exceed 5.70 mg / dl. However, as always, it should be noted that each laboratory may have slightly different values.
- Did you know…
When uric acid levels get too high, it can precipitate into connective tissue – or worse, joints – forming so-called crystals. Typical of the formation of tophi in gout patients. The same crystals can lead to kidney damage or stones.
High Uricemia: Symptoms
If the uricaemia has only one slight rise, it is often and completely asymptomatic. If it becomes chronic it can cause typical signs of gout with joint pain, bumps (tophi) often evident in the fingers and toes due to deposits of uric acid crystals. In severe cases, renal colic, hypertension and itching can also occur. If the elevation is caused by tumors, even more serious symptoms may appear.
- Consequences of high uric acid
- Cystitis (increased urinary viscosity)
- Kidney stones
- Kidney damage
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hardening of the arteries
- Gotta
- Erythema and dermatological problems
Drugs that modify blood uric acid levels
There are drugs that are closely related to blood uric acid changes, of which the most important and known is aspirin. Paradoxically, if it is taken in low doses it can increase the levels of uric acid in the blood, but if taken constantly and at a high dosage it reduces them significantly.
The Gout
