The antisickling role of uric acid in sickle cell disease

Based on the antisickling properties of structurally similar compounds, uric acid (urate) was investigated and found to possess antisickling activity on sickle cell erythrocytes, in particular at higher urate concentrations. Serum urate levels were subsequently determined for 60 sickle cell patients of both sexes within the age limit of 1-27 years. The mean serum urate values were computed at discrete age groups, and the values obtained were compared with the mean serum urate concentration for 15 normal subjects of both sexes and similar age range. Although a definite age-dependent trend did exist in the mean serum urate concentration in sickle cell disease (SCD), this elevation could not be truly referred to as "hyperuricaemia'. Hence, any possible contribution by elevated serum urate to a gouty trait and SCD bone crisis remains unclear. However, these observed serum urate values corresponded well with those concentrations which inhibited the sickling of sickle cell erythrocytes in vitro, permitting the speculation that the elevated serum urate might well be beneficial to sickle cell patients in a compensatory way.