Uric Acid in Blood

Results

The blood uric acid test measures the amount of uric acid in a blood sample.

Normal

Normal values of blood uric acid may vary from lab to lab. Results are usually ready within 1 to 2 days.

Uric acid in blood

Men:	3.4–7.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)	200–420 micromoles per liter (mcmol/L)
Women:	2.4–6.0 mg/dL	140–360 mcmol/L
Children:	2.5–5.5 mg/dL	120–330 mcmol/L

 

Uric acid crystals sometimes form in joints even at levels less than 7 mg/dL, especially in men. This can lead to a gout attack, even though the uric acid levels are within the normal range.

Many conditions can change uric acid levels. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and medical history.

High values

High uric acid values may be caused by:

• Individual differences in the way your body produces or gets rid of uric acid.
• Conditions, such as:
  • Kidney disease or kidney damage.
  • The increased breakdown of body cells that occurs with some types of cancer (including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) or cancer treatments, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or heart failure.
  • Other disorders, such as alcohol dependence, preeclampsia, liver disease (cirrhosis), obesity, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and low blood levels of parathyroid hormone.
  • Starvation, malnutrition, or lead poisoning.
  • A rare inherited gene disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.
• Medicines, such as some diuretics, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), lower doses of aspirin (75 to 100 mg daily), niacin, warfarin (such as Coumadin), cyclosporine, levodopa, tacrolimus, and some medicines used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis.
• Eating foods that are very high in purines, such as organ meats (liver, brains), red meats (beef, lamb), game meat (deer, elk), some seafood (sardines, herring, scallops), and beer.

Low values

Low uric acid values may be caused by:

• Severe liver disease, Wilson's disease, or some types of cancer.
• The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), a condition that causes large amounts of fluid to build up in the body.
• Not eating enough protein.
• Sulfinpyrazone, large amounts of aspirin (1,500 mg or more daily), probenecid (such as Benemid and Probalan), and allopurinol (such as Aloprim and Zyloprim).

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: October 31, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
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