The importance of uric acid examination

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in man. The findings of human pathological levels of uric acid in serum and urine have in most patients serious clinical implications. This paper summarizes aspects of uric acid examination in clinical biochemistry laboratory. The clinical consequences of pathological levels of uric acid are shown. Uric acid is a useful diagnostic tool as screening for most of purine metabolic disorders. The importance of uric acid measurement in plasma and urine with respect of metabolic disorders is highlighted. Not only gout and renal stones are indications to send blood to the laboratory for uric acid examination. Also familial nephritis, neurological abnormalities with mental retardation are reasons to know uric acid levels in blood and urine. The results underline the importance of urinary uric acid investigation, which is often quite overlooked, and is helpful in differential diagnosis of gout. This work is dedicated to Professor Jan Horbaczewsky and his 110th anniversary of the opening of lessons in medical chemistry at the Czech medical faculty of Charles University in Prague.