Hyperuricemia: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Hyperuricemia is excess uric acid in the blood and increases the risk of developing gout, resulting in symptoms such as joint pain or swelling. Additionally, because uric acid is eliminated by the kidneys, hyperuricemia can cause kidney stones to form.

This condition can be caused by decreased elimination of uric acid by the kidneys, excessive consumption of protein in the diet or increased production of uric acid in the body, which can accumulate in the joints, tendons or kidneys.

The treatment of hyperuricemia is carried out by a rheumatologist, nephrologist or general practitioner who may recommend reducing protein intake or using medications to lower uric acid.

Symptoms of hyperuricemia

The main symptoms of hyperuricemia are:

• Joint pain, especially in the big toe, hands, ankles and knees;
• Swelling and feeling of heat in the joints;
• Redness in the joints.

Over time, excessive uric acid accumulation can further result in joint deformities. Check out all the symptoms of high uric acid.

Furthermore, some people with hyperuricemia may also have kidney stones, which cause intense pain in the lower back and difficulty urinating, for example.

Read too: 10 kidney stone symptoms (with online test)

What can hyperuricemia cause?

Hyperuricemia can cause gout or kidney stones due to the accumulation of uric acid in the joints, tendons or kidneys.

Furthermore, excess uric acid in the blood can lead to the development of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, for example.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of hyperuricemia is made by a rheumatologist, nephrologist or general practitioner through evaluation of symptoms, health history and physical and laboratory examinations.

Make an appointment with a rheumatologist in the region closest to you:

Thus, the main tests to confirm the diagnosis of hyperuricemia are blood and urine tests, which allow determining the levels of uric acid in the blood or checking whether there is excess uric acid being eliminated by the kidneys in the urine. See the main tests that detect high uric acid.

Possible causes

The main causes of hyperuricemia are:

• Hereditary genetic factors;
• Diet rich in purines, such as red meat, beans or shellfish;
• Excessive consumption of fructose, such as corn syrup or soft drinks;
• Diet rich in saturated fat;
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Acute or chronic kidney disease.

Furthermore, the use of some medications, such as diuretics, cyclosporine, salicylates or pyrazinamide, for example, can reduce the elimination of uric acid, increasing the risk of hyperuricemia.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of hyperuricemia must be carried out under the guidance of a rheumatologist, nephrologist or general practitioner and varies depending on the severity of the hyperuricemia and symptoms.

The main treatments for hyperuricemia are:

1. Diet for high uric acid

The diet for high uric acid must be guided by a nutritionist and it is normally recommended to avoid consuming foods with a high protein content, such as red meat, liver, shellfish, certain fish, beans, oats and also alcoholic beverages, especially beer. See what the diet for high uric acid should be like.

2. Medicines

In more serious situations, where joints are compromised and a gout attack develops, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines such as allopurinol or probenecid, to reduce uric acid in the blood or urine. Check out the main remedies for high uric acid.

Additionally, your doctor may recommend the use of anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, etoricoxib or celecoxib, which help reduce pain and swelling caused by the accumulation of uric acid in the joints.

In the case of kidney stones, initial treatment is usually carried out in the hospital, as renal colic can cause intense pain, requiring the application of analgesics into the vein. In addition, the doctor may prescribe medications that facilitate the elimination of kidney stones. See how kidney stones are treated.

Read too: Home remedies to lower uric acid

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