Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:52
A Mouse 5/6th Nephrectomy Model That Induces Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy
Published on: November 7, 2017
Uric acid and heart failure
Masanari Kuwabara1, Arrigo F G Cicero2, Naoyuki Akashi3
1Division of Public Health, Center for Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University Tochigi, Japan.
Journal of Cardiology
|July 21, 2026
Summary
Hyperuricemia, common in heart failure patients, may worsen outcomes. While evidence is limited, uric acid-lowering agents like febuxostat show potential, but more research is needed to confirm benefits for heart failure management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Heart failure and hyperuricemia are increasing globally.
- Hyperuricemia is a poor prognostic indicator in heart failure.
- Current evidence on treating hyperuricemia in heart failure is insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical trials on hyperuricemia in heart failure.
- To assess the efficacy of uric acid-lowering agents in heart failure patients.
- To explore the role of serum uric acid in heart failure severity and oxidative stress.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trials and cohort studies.
- Analysis of Medicare data from approximately 100,000 participants.
- Examination of evidence on uric acid-lowering agents (e.g., febuxostat, allopurinol).
Main Results:
- Febuxostat showed less heart failure aggravation than allopurinol in a US cohort.
- Serum uric acid may indicate disease severity, xanthine oxidase activity, and oxidative stress.
- Differential effects of uric acid-lowering agents suggest drug-specific cardiovascular impacts.
Conclusions:
- Treating hyperuricemia in heart failure lacks consensus but may be considered if lifestyle changes fail.
- Further large-scale, prospective studies are essential to establish treatment efficacy.
- Drug-specific properties, not just uric acid reduction, might influence cardiovascular outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics
Heart failure and kidney perfusion are interconnected in a complex way. Reduced renal perfusion and venous congestion are two significant factors that contribute to renal dysfunction in heart failure. The kidneys, primarily responsible for fluid balance in the body, are adversely affected due to compromised cardiac output and increased venous pressure. In response to reduced renal perfusion, the kidneys activate neurohumoral mechanisms to restore balance. However, these mechanisms can be...
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.