[Is hyperuricemia involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension and renal insufficiency?]

The relationship between hyperuricemia, hypertension and renal diseases has been studied for decades. On account of its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, hyperuricemia was generally considered more as a bystander than an independant risk factor for hypertension and renal impairment. Recent studies on animals and humans have demonstrated a plausible causality between hyperuricemia and onset of hypertension or renal disease. Prior to recommend treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia, large scale randomised studies should be implemented in order to determine whether uric acid lowering may be of benefit in the prevention or treatment of hypertension and renal diseases.