Why is asymptomatic hyperuricemia not treated?

Why is asymptomatic hyperuricemia not treated?

As a general rule, asymptomatic hyperuricemia should not be treated, though ultrasonographic studies have demonstrated that urate crystal deposition into soft tissues occurs in a minority of patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

What causes hyperuricemia?

Hyperuricemia occurs when uric acid levels in the blood are too high. This is usually the result of consuming a diet rich in purine. The kidneys are unable to clear out uric acid fast enough, causing a build-up in the bloodstream. High uric acid levels in the bloodstream can cause gout or kidney stones.

Can gout be asymptomatic?

The four phases of gout include asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gouty arthritis, intercritical gout and chronic tophaceous gout. The peak incidence occurs in patients 30 to 50 years old, and the condition is much more common in men than in women.

What is considered hyperuricemia?

Hyperuricemia is an elevated uric acid level in the blood. The normal upper limit is 6.8mg/dL, and anything over 7 mg/dL is considered saturated, and symptoms can occur. This elevated level is the result of increased production, decreased excretion of uric acid, or a combination of both processes.

How should we manage asymptomatic hyperuricemia?

Medications for comorbidities that elevate urate levels should be discontinued and replaced with medications that have the opposite effect. Therapeutic lifestyle changes, weight loss as appropriate, and sufficient physical activity are useful for improving general health.

How does hemolysis cause hyperuricemia?

Hyperuricemia developed in 2 children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia with reticulocytopenia at a time of hemolytic crisis. One likely cause of hyperuricemia is the destruction of nucleated RBC precursors by autoantibodies.

Which defects may lead to hyperuricemia?

Enzymatic defects such as glycogenoses type I and aldolase-B deficiency are other causes of hyperuricemia that result from a combination of overproduction and underexcretion. Urate crystals can engage an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, the macromolecular NALP3 (cryopyrin) inflammasome complex.

Can hyperuricemia be asymptomatic?

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is a term traditionally applied to settings in which the serum urate concentration is elevated but in which neither symptoms nor signs of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition disease, such as gout, or uric acid renal disease, have occurred.

Is hyperuricemia a chronic disease?

Hyperuricemia may be a major contributor to the development or progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although there is no clear cutoff uric acid (UA) value associated to the risk for kidney damage, it appears to be an increased risk as UA rises.

What food should we avoid for uric acid?

Recommendations for specific foods or supplements include:

• Organ and glandular meats. Avoid meats such as liver, kidney and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid.
• Red meat.
• Seafood.
• High-purine vegetables.
• Alcohol.
• Sugary foods and beverages.
• Vitamin C.
• Coffee.