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Unit Code 8529:
Uric Acid, Urine

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Useful For

Assessment and management of patients with kidney

stones, particularly uric acid stones

Clinical Information

Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism.  It is freely

filtered by the glomeruli and most is reabsorbed by the tubules.

There is also active tubular secretion.

 

Increased levels of uric acid in the urine usually accompany

increased plasma uric acid levels unless there is a decreased

excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. Urine uric acid levels reflect the

amount of dietary purines and also endogenous nucleic acid breakdown.

Reference Values

Diet-dependent:  <750 mg/specimen

The reference value is for a 24-hour collection. Specimens

collected for other than a 24-hour time period are reported

in unit of mg/dL for which reference values are not established.

Interpretation

Urinary uric acid excretion is elevated in a significant proportion

of patients with uric acid stones.

 

Uric acid excretion can be either decreased or increased in

response to a variety of pharmacologic agents.

 

Urine uric acid levels are elevated in states of uric acid overproduction

such as in leukemia and polycythemia and after intake of food rich

in nucleoproteins.

Cautions

High levels of bilirubin and ascorbic acid may interfere with

measurement.

Special Instructions and Forms

• Urine Preservatives 

Clinical Reference

Newman DJ, Price CP:  Renal function and nitrogen metabolites.

In Textbook of Clinical Chemistry.  Edited by NW Tietz.  Philadelphia,

WB Saunders Company, 1999, pp 1245-1250

Key