Hyperuricemia and renal risk

Asymptomatic mild hyperuricemia has been reported in association with a number of conditions associated with chronic kidney disease, including hypertension, insulin resistance, cerebrovascular and cardiac disease. Experimental studies indicate that serum uric acid may directly and indirectly promote renal damage by several pathogenetic mechanisms both at cellular and tissue level. While there is currently no consensus on the usefulness of urate lowering therapy with the aim of preventing chronic renal disease, growing evidence indicates a relationship between changes of serum uric acid over time and renal morbidity. The present manuscript will briefly review the evidence in favor and against an independent role for SUA in the pathogenesis of renal disease.