[Hyperuricemia as a risk factor of nephropathy in gout]

Among 196 patients with primary gout examined in hospital or earlier stable or transient hyperuricemia was noted in 160 (81.6%). These patients were entered into the study group. The control group included 36 persons in whom the level of blood uric acid did not exceed normal values. The familial pattern of disease was established in the patients of the study group. Urolithic, proteinuric and hypertensive types of nephropathy as well as chronic renal insufficiency were more frequently observed in hyperuricemia patients. Alongside with severe tubular, interstitial and vascular changes, glomeruli in the form of mesangioproliferative or mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis were regularly involved in the pathological process. In the rest of the patients vascular lesions were less marked and less frequent, renal glomerular changes reminded the picture of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis only; urolithiasis in them took a more favorable course. Thus, a high level of blood uric acid is one of the risk factors of renal affection in gout determining in many ways prognosis of disease.