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Published on: October 3, 2020

Serum urate: a biomarker or treatment target in pediatric hypertension?

Megan Yanik1, Daniel I Feig

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.

Current Opinion in Cardiology
|June 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Serum uric acid levels are linked to childhood essential hypertension, suggesting its use as a diagnostic biomarker. Further research is needed to confirm uric acid-lowering therapies for hypertension treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

  • Essential hypertension in children is a growing concern.
  • Hyperuricemia, or elevated serum uric acid, has been associated with essential hypertension in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the association between serum uric acid levels and essential hypertension in children.
  • To explore the potential of serum uric acid as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for childhood hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on hyperuricemia and childhood hypertension.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms for uric acid-induced hypertension.
  • Evaluation of evidence for uric acid-lowering agents and dietary interventions.

Main Results:

  • A strong correlation exists between serum uric acid levels and essential hypertension in children, supporting its diagnostic utility.
  • Uric acid-induced hypertension may have a reversible early phase, particularly relevant for new-onset cases.
  • Preliminary studies indicate that uric acid-lowering agents like allopurinol and probenecid may reduce blood pressure in adolescents, but require further investigation.
  • Dietary fructose intake is linked to hyperuricemia and hypertension, though the impact of fructose reduction on blood pressure needs confirmation.

Conclusions:

  • Serum uric acid levels are a valuable biomarker for diagnosing essential hypertension in children.
  • Additional research is necessary to validate the efficacy and safety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods for reducing serum uric acid as a hypertension therapy.
Abstract

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