What Does Elevated Uric Acid Mean?
Uric acid is created as part of a natural bodily process. When we eat certain foods (like beer or wine, dried beans, liver, mackerel or anchovies) or consume certain drugs or compounds that contain natural substances called purines, the substances in these consumables need to be broken down. As the body breaks down purines, uric acid is created. This uric acid then travels through the blood stream to the kidneys, where it leaves the body as a waste in urine. Elevated levels of uric acid can occur when certain foods or drugs are eaten in large quantities, and/or when an underlying illnesses causes a problem with the excretion of uric acid.
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Normal Amounts of Uric Acid
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The normal range of uric acid within the blood is between 3.0 and 7.0 mg/DL. Levels that are higher than this are considered to be elevated or abnormally high. Abnormally high or elevated levels of uric acid are referred to as hyperuricemia.
Causes of High Uric Acid Levels
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The consumption of certain foods and drinks, and the injesting of certain drugs, can cause elevated uric acid levels. These substances are high in purines and, when responsible for the rise in uric acid, generally the elevated levels are harmless. Foods and drugs that potentially cause elevated uric acid levels include aspirin, alcohol, coffee and other dieuretics, ascorbic or nicotinic acid, epinephrine, methlydopa, phenothiazine and certain chemotherapy drugs.
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Diseases That Cause High Uric Acid Levels
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Elevated uric acid levels can also be a symptom of an underlying disease, condition or illness. Many of the illnesses that cause elevated uric acid levels are relatively serious and can be fatal, so it is essential that your physician properly diagnoses elevated uric acid levels. Diseases associated with elevated uric acid levels include alcoholism, gout, diabetes, acidosis, leukemia, lead poisoning, renal failure, toxic pregnancy, nephrolithiasis and hypoparathyroidism.
Testing Uric Acid Levels
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A doctor generally draws blood from the elbow or back of the hand to test levels of uric acid to diagnose elevated levels.
Prognosis for Elevated Uric Acid Levels
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The prognosis for elevated uric acid levels depends on the underlying cause. When the levels of uric acid are very high, often it suggests gout or renal failure as the underlying cause. These conditions are much more difficult to treat and have a much worse prognosis than diabetes or the other conditions commonly associated with elevated uric acid levels.
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