[Serum uric acid levels in disorders of the rheumatic type]

Serum uric acid levels were investigated in a series of 1715 subjects. Of these 596 were patients suffering from inflammatory rheumatic disorders, 162 patients with gout, 236 with osteoarthrosis and 79 with systemic lupus erythematosus or diffuse scleroderma. 642 healthy subjects completed the series. On analyzing the results, very high uricemia values were found in patients with gout. Increased average uricemia values were observed in patients with psoriatic arthritis and diffuse connective tissue disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus and diffuse scleroderma). Hyperuricemia was found in psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and in nosologic units classified under diffuse connective tissue disorders in 5.6 to 10.1% of patients. In the healthy subjects examined, hyperuricemia was recorded in 3.8% of cases.