Gout Information

Poor kidney function or kidney disease

Any disorder of the kidney reduces its ability to filter and eliminate uric acid. Whether kidney disease will produce hyperuricemia, however, depends to some extent on the concentration of uric acid in the blood prior to the onset of the disease. If the concentration was low and there was only a modest rise with the onset of disease, levels may remain within the normal range. If concentration was towards the upper end of normal, kidney disease is likely to lead to the development of hyperuricemia.

In cases where kidney disease is resolved and function returns to normal, uric acid levels may also return to normal. Of course, this depends also on the weight of the individual, their diet, alcohol intake and many other things.

Diseases of the kidney that can produce hyperuricemia are polycystic kidney disease, kidney disease due to lead poisoning in childhood and kidney disease due to excessive consumption of painkillers. Kidney disease in gout needs the specialized training of a rheumatologist.

Being overweight

Studies have shown that people who are overweight are more likely to have raised levels of uric acid in their blood than people who are not. In fact, being overweight is recognized as