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Uric acid, hypertension, and cardiovascular and renal complications

Carmine Zoccali1, Francesca Mallamaci

  • 1CNR National Research Council (Italy) Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Disease and Hypertension Unit and Nephrology, Hypertension and Renal Transplantation unit, Ospedali Riuniti, Reggio Calabria, 89124, Italy, carmine.zoccali@tin.it.

Current Hypertension Reports
|September 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

High uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) may harm the heart and kidneys. However, more research is needed to confirm if lowering uric acid prevents cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • Hyperuricemia is linked to cardiovascular (CV) and kidney disease.
  • Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest hyperuricemia may be detrimental to the CV system and kidneys.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of hyperuricemia on cardiovascular and renal health.
  • To assess the need for uric acid-lowering interventions in asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental studies in animal models and in vitro.
  • Analysis of epidemiological studies.
  • Assessment of existing clinical trial data.

Main Results:

  • Experimental data suggest hyperuricemia can cause hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, vascular damage, and renal disease.
  • Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that hyperuricemia is harmful to the CV system and kidneys.
  • Lack of well-powered trials investigating uric acid-lowering interventions for CV and renal outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence is insufficient to recommend uric acid-lowering drugs for asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
  • Further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to determine the benefits of uric acid reduction.

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