Hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia is an abnormally high concentration of urate in the blood. It can promote urate crystal formation but does not always cause symptoms or gout.

Uric acid: Uric acid is the protonated form of urate, a product of purine breakdown. Blood urate is measured relative to this acid–base pair.
Serum urate test: A serum urate test measures the concentration of urate in a blood sample. It provides the laboratory measurement used to identify hyperuricemia.
Purine: A purine is a nitrogen-containing molecule whose derivatives include DNA and RNA bases. Purines supply the material whose breakdown ultimately produces urate.
Normouricemic gout: Normouricemic gout is an acute gout attack during which measured serum urate is within the reference range. A normal result during a flare does not rule out gout.
Purine metabolism: Purine metabolism comprises the pathways that synthesize, recycle, and break down purine nucleotides. Excess urate can result when purine breakdown outpaces removal.
Gout: Gout is inflammatory arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints or other tissues. It is a common consequence of crystal-forming hyperuricemia, but not inevitable.
Uricase: Uricase is an enzyme that oxidizes uric acid into more soluble products. Most mammals use it to break down urate; humans lack functional uricase.
Asymptomatic hyperuricemia: Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is elevated serum urate without symptoms attributable to urate crystal deposition. It distinguishes a laboratory finding from symptomatic crystal disease.
Xanthine oxidase: Xanthine oxidase is an enzyme that converts hypoxanthine and xanthine into uric acid. It catalyzes the final steps of urate production and is a drug target.
Allopurinol: Allopurinol is a medication that lowers urate production by inhibiting xanthine oxidase. It is commonly used for long-term urate lowering in gout.

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