Purine breakdown product; high levels associate with gout risk.
What it is
Serum uric acid (urate) in µmol/L.
Uric acid (urate) is the end product of purine metabolism in humans. Serum levels in µmol/L reflect production (diet, cell turnover, genetics) and kidney excretion. Gout is crystal arthritis, a clinical diagnosis, not synonymous with a high blood urate.
Why it matters
Raised urate does not prove gout; many people have asymptomatic hyperuricaemia. Gout is a clinical diagnosis (often with joint aspiration). Low values are less often important.
This guide is educational only and cannot diagnose you. Discuss results, especially anything outside your laboratory’s reference interval, or that does not match how you feel, with a GP or other appropriately qualified clinician.
Many people have asymptomatic hyperuricaemia and never develop gout. Conversely, urate can be normal during an acute gout flare. Kidney disease, diuretics, beer, fructose-sweetened drinks, and high cell turnover raise urate. Low urate is less often clinically important.
This guide is educational only and cannot diagnose you. Discuss results, especially anything outside your laboratory’s reference interval, or that does not match how you feel, with a GP or other appropriately qualified clinician.
How it affects the body
Urate can crystallise in joints when local conditions allow, triggering intense inflammation. Kidneys excrete most urate.
When local urate exceeds solubility, needle-shaped crystals can form in joints and provoke intense innate inflammation. Kidneys and gut excrete urate; underexcretion is a common pathway to high blood levels.
For athletes
High-purine diets, beer, and dehydration around competition can lift urate. Joint pain after races still needs proper assessment, not all post-event pain is gout.
Dehydration, high-purine recovery meals, and beer after competition can lift urate. Acute joint pain still needs proper assessment: infection and injury mimic gout. Weight-cutting sports should avoid extreme dehydration tactics that stress kidneys and urate handling.
