The level of uric acid in blood and urine is one of the most important indicators of the normal functioning of the human body.

Therefore, a decrease or increase in uric acid should not be ignored, since this almost always indicates a malfunction of such vital organs as the liver and kidneys.

Given the importance of this indicator, we propose to understand what uric acid is, why it rises in the blood and urine, and how to deal with it.

Uric acid is a crystal of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that is formed in the liver during the breakdown of purines.

The excretion of uric acid from the human body is carried out by the kidneys.

Urates are salts of potassium and sodium uric acid that form a sediment in the urine. Urates are synthesized from uric acid. Uric acid in urine is measured by a urinalysis test and in blood by a biochemical blood test.

  • increases the effect of catecholamines on the cells of the body, activating the work of the brain and other parts of the nervous system;
  • protects the body from the negative effects of free radicals;
  • controls the qualitative composition of body cells.

At the same time, increased uric acid in the blood is a serious signal of some diseases and requires a number of studies to determine the causes and eliminate them. After all, an excess of uric acid is a poison that poisons the body from the inside.

Uric acid in the blood: normal

The rate of this indicator directly depends on the sex and age of the person.

The rate of uric acid in children

In children, the norm for this indicator is 120-330 μmol / l.

The rate of uric acid in men in the blood

In men under 60 years of age, the uric acid indicator should be in the range from 250 to 400 μmol / L, and in men over 60 years old - from 250-480 μmol / L.

The rate of uric acid in women in the blood

The rate for women is slightly less important than for men. In persons under 60 years of age, it should not go beyond 200 to 300 μmol / L, and in persons over 60, from 210 to 430 μmol / L.

The analysis for uric acid is carried out both to healthy persons for the purpose of medical examination, and to patients with diseases that lead to a delay in the excretion of uric acid from the body. These include diabetes mellitus, diseases of the cardiovascular system, gout and others.

In order for the test results to be objective, you should properly prepare for donating blood. To do this, 24 hours before the blood sampling procedure, fruit and vegetable juices, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, chewing gum should be removed from the daily diet, as well as physical and mental stress should be reduced.

Blood sampling is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach, so the last meal should be no later than 12 hours before the procedure. Also, you can not smoke 1 hour before the test.

For analysis, venous blood is taken from the vessels that pass in the cubital fossa.

The submitted tests are processed within a day and issued the next day. But in emergency cases, a biochemical blood test can be carried out urgently (in cito) within 2-3 hours.

Uric acid is elevated: causes

Elevated uric acid levels can be caused by the following diseases:

  • hypertonic disease. With a constant increase in blood pressure, the kidneys are damaged, as a result of which hyperuricemia appears. In this case, a cardiologist or a general practitioner gives patients recommendations on how to reduce the level of uric acid in the body, which consists in taking drugs that lower blood pressure and dieting;
  • gout. The cause of this disease is the increased synthesis of purines. The target organ for gout is the kidneys, as a result of which their failure develops. Also, with gout, joints are affected, the so-called gouty arthritis. In addition, with this pathology, uric acid crystals are debugged under the skin. Such deposits are called tofuses. All patients must be prescribed a diet with increased uric acid in the blood and drug therapy, which promotes the elimination of urate from the body. We will talk in more detail about the treatment of gout and drugs that remove uric acid from the body;
  • endocrine system diseases. Hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands leads to an increase in the concentration of calcium levels in the blood, and this, in turn, to hyperuricemia. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by a violation of almost all types of metabolism in the body, including purine;
  • overweight and obesity. These conditions do not directly affect purine metabolism, but increase the risk of hypertension, gout and diabetes mellitus;
  • increased cholesterol levels in the body and atherosclerosis. Hyperuricemia often occurs with high cholesterol and atherosclerosis;
  • pathology of the urinary system. In this case, we can talk about a vicious circle, since uric acid is a component of calculi. In turn, urolithiasis contributes to nephropathy, polycystic disease, renal failure, that is, conditions that cause hyperuricemia;
  • blood pathology. Polycythemia, anemia, hemolysis of erythrocytes, leukemia and others can lead to hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia in blood diseases is explained by the fact that tissues and purine bases, from which uric acid is synthesized, are actively decomposed and released into the blood.

Also, an increased amount of uric acid in the body can be formed with massive burns, Down syndrome, unbalanced diet, alcohol abuse, prolonged protein diets, excessive physical exertion, taking Furosemide, Aspirin, Theophylline and other drugs.

Lowering the level of uric acid in the blood: what does it mean?

If uric acid in the blood is lowered, then they speak of hypouricemia. Hypouricemia can be caused by the following pathological conditions:

  • lack of enzymes in the body such as xanthine oxidase and phosphorylase, which are involved in purine metabolism. Such conditions can be both congenital and acquired;
  • mutations in the URAT1 and GLUT9 genes, since they are responsible for regulating the reabsorption of uric acid in the proximal renal tubules;
  • polydipsia;
  • large introduction of fluid into the body during infusion therapy;
  • hyponatremia;
  • intravenous nutrition;
  • HIV infection and AIDS;
  • cancer of various localization, which leads to depletion of the body;
  • diseases of the small and large intestines, in which the supply of proteins is disrupted, and others.

Hypuricemia can occur in the first trimester of pregnancy, following a low-protein diet, drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages, taking medications such as Losartan, Aspirin, and Trimethoprim, as well as with estrogen therapy.

In most cases, low hyperuricemia is detected by chance during a biochemical blood test, since it does not give any clinical manifestations.

But a sufficiently high level of hyperuricemia will manifest itself symptoms such as:

  • arthralgia (joint pain);
  • the appearance of spots, tophus and sores on the skin;
  • oliguria (decrease in the daily volume of urine);
  • hyperemia of the skin over the elbow and knee joints;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • arrhythmia;
  • increased fatigue;
  • general weakness;
  • stone plaque on the teeth and others.

Also, the patients will have manifestations of the underlying disease that led to hyperuricemia.

Hypuricemia: symptoms

With hypouricemia, there may be the following symptoms:

  • reduction of all types of skin sensitivity;
  • decreased vision, up to blindness;
  • hearing loss;
  • violation of the psycho-emotional sphere in the form of asthenia;
  • memory impairment;
  • paralysis, including of the respiratory muscles;
  • demyelination of nerve fibers.

First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of hypouricemia.

Also, this indicator can be improved with a balanced diet. The daily diet must necessarily contain foods rich in purines, namely: meat, fish, legumes, liver, kidneys, mushrooms, spinach, cocoa, chocolate and others.

To calculate the daily amount of protein used the following formula:

  • for women: 1g * 1kg;
  • for men: 1.7-2.5 g * 1 kg;
  • for a child: 1.5g * 1kg.

How to remove uric acid from the body?

Before you start lowering the level of uric acid in the blood, you need to find out the reason for its increase. After the cause is determined, treatment of the underlying disease begins and in parallel they are applied the following ways:

  • diet;
  • normalization of weight;
  • drinking enough fluids;
  • drug therapy;
  • folk remedies.

Let's consider each method in more detail.

The diet for gout and high uric acid should be low in calories. Patients with normal weight are prescribed table No. 5 according to Pevzner, and for overweight patients - table No. 8.

During an exacerbation of gout, remove foods that contain purines from the daily diet, namely:

  • offal: brains, liver, kidneys, tongue, thyroid gland;
  • veal;
  • Chick;
  • fatty meats, fish and poultry;
  • smoked meat and fish products;
  • canned fish products;
  • concentrated broths from poultry, fish and meat;
  • legumes;
  • mushrooms;
  • greens (sorrel, spinach);
  • caffeinated drinks;
  • alcohol;
  • chocolate and cocoa.

It is better to cook food with gentle methods of heat treatment, that is, steamed, boiled or stewed. You should also give preference to liquid meals and products.

In addition, you need to consume a large amount of liquid - 2-3 liters. It is better to drink clean water without gas and sugar or slightly carbonated alkaline water.

How to lower uric acid in the blood with medication?

Drug treatment for hyperuricemia is to use the following drugs:

  • diuretics such as Furosemide, Hypothiazide, Veroshpiron, Indapamide and others;
  • Allopurinol, Apurin, Uridozide, Uriprim and others, which reduce the severity of hyperuricemia by binding xanthine oxidase;
  • Benzobromarone, Urinorm, Dezurik, Normurat. These drugs bind enzymes that are involved in purine metabolism;
  • Sulfinpyrazone, Sulfazone and Pirocard activate the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys;
  • Etamide - blocks the reabsorption of uric acid in the kidneys.

Any of the above drugs can be taken exclusively as directed by the attending physician under the control of the level of uric acid in the blood.

How to lower uric acid with simple folk remedies?

Folk remedies for hyperuricemia are used exclusively as a prophylaxis or addition to the main drug treatment.

For your attention the most effective folk remedies for hyperuricemia:

  • Infusion of lingonberry leaves: 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh or dried lingonberry leaves are poured with one glass of boiling water, covered with a lid and allowed to brew for 35 minutes. One glass of infusion is taken orally before meals three times a day.
  • Stinging nettle juice: 5 ml of freshly squeezed nettle juice is consumed daily before each meal.
  • Decoction of birch leaves: 20 grams of chopped fresh or dried birch leaves are poured with 250 ml of boiling water, put on low heat and boiled for 20 minutes, then allowed to brew under a lid for 30 minutes and filtered through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. 50 ml of medicine is taken orally 3-4 times a day before meals.
  • Trays with herbal infusion: thoroughly mix 100 grams of chamomile, calendula and sage. Then take 1 glass of the resulting collection, pour it with 2 liters of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for 2-3 hours. When the infusion has cooled to body temperature, it is poured into a wide pelvis and legs or arms are lowered into it, that is, those limbs where the joints are affected by gout. This bath is carried out for 15-20 minutes once a day before bedtime. The course of treatment consists of 20 procedures.

To avoid a repeated increase in uric acid in the blood, you need to follow the above-described diet for life, lead, control weight, etc., since the diseases that lead to hyperuricemia are mostly chronic and incurable.

1. Congenital (hereditary) causes of increased blood counts are genetic diseases:

  • hereditary idiopathic familial hyperuricemia;
  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

In hereditary diseases, hyperuricemia is observed as a result of a deficiency of a number of enzymes that control the processes of purine metabolism (for example, the enzyme hypoxanthine).

2. Acquired reasons. Increased uric acid in the blood can be caused by physiological reasons (active breakdown of purines) or by a pathological state of internal organs.

Factors that activate purine metabolism and an excessive increase in uric acid include the following:

  • alcohol abuse;
  • food with protein products of animal origin;
  • physical activity, strength training;
  • prolonged fasting;
  • long-term use of medications that affect the release of uric acid compounds (ethambutol, pyrazinamide, levadop, salicylates, etc.).

Also, among the reasons for the increase in the level of uric acid in the blood, the following diseases are distinguished:

  • inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, nephritis) and renal failure, in which the organ's ability to filter blood plasma deteriorates;
  • disorders of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, acidosis, hypothyroidism);
  • blood diseases (hemolysis, polycythemia);
  • oncological processes (leukemia, lymphoma);
  • obesity;
  • liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
  • inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis);
  • dermatological diseases (psoriasis);
  • severe allergic reactions;
  • toxicosis in pregnant women.

In some cases, uric acid can rise in the blood during severe infectious diseases such as scarlet fever, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.

The norm in women and men by age (table)

The level of uric acid compounds depends on many factors: gender, age, weight, nutrition, sports, genetic predisposition.

The norm of uric acid in the blood for children, regardless of gender, is 140-200 μmol / liter. Such a low rate of analysis is due to the fact that in children under 14 years old, the processes of anabolism (an increase in the number of cells), and not catabolism (protein breakdown), prevail.

Symptoms of hyperuricemia

But by what signs can you determine that uric acid is elevated? Symptoms may vary from person to person and are usually not attributed to hyperuricemia.

Most often, a change in blood content is accompanied by rapid fatigue or chronic fatigue and the formation of tartar. If hyperurekimia has a concomitant disease (gout, HA, diabetes mellitus, etc.), it manifests itself in symptoms characteristic of this pathology.

In childhood, an increase in uric acid can be determined by the fact that diathesis bright red spots appear on the hands and / or cheeks.

As a rule, signs of the disease appear with a significant increase in the concentration of uric acid compounds. In adults, especially in men over 50, the symptoms of high uric acid levels are as follows:

  • pain in the joints of the big toes and in the heels when walking;
  • the painful joint becomes inflamed and reddened;
  • pain while urinating;
  • pain in the abdomen and lower back;
  • frequent headache;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • rapid formation of tartar;
  • disruption of the brain (memory impairment, bad mood, nervousness);
  • chronic fatigue.

Analysis for the definition of hyperuricemia

A blood test is needed to accurately determine if your body has elevated uric acid levels. To obtain accurate results, three days before the delivery of the biomaterial, you need to adhere to a diet in which alcohol and protein products are completely excluded.

Also, food intake should be stopped 8 hours before the analysis. For research, venous blood is taken.

The direction can be prescribed by such doctors: urologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, nephrologist.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment with drugs should only take place as directed by a doctor. The medical method of excretion of uric acid is carried out under the supervision of a specialist who will regularly prescribe appropriate tests.

To cleanse the body, the doctor prescribes diuretic drugs that remove uric acid. Next, medications are prescribed that inhibit the synthesis of this product, usually "Allopurinol" or its analogues.

To achieve the effect, strict adherence to the medication regimen is required for four weeks or more. Also, the doctor may consider it necessary to prescribe prophylactic drugs, for example, "Koltsikhin".

In order to reduce the level of uric acid in the body, it is necessary to use medication in combination with adherence to a diet. Comprehensive treatment is aimed at:

  • elimination of symptoms of the disease with anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • removal of urates;
  • normalization of metabolism.

Drugs that lower the level of uric acid are divided into groups depending on the effect they have:

  • excretion of uric acid in the urine (probenecid, sodium bicarbonate, sulfinpyrazone);
  • elimination of metabolites from tissues into blood plasma (Zinhoven);
  • a decrease in the activity of purine metabolism, as a result of which the amount of acid produced decreases (allomaton, allopurinol);
  • diuretic drugs that activate the kidneys (furosemide, mannitol, lasix).

Folk recipes are an additional method by which you can remove uric acid from the body. As a rule, medicinal herbs are used for this purpose, which have a diuretic effect and help to reduce the level of uric acid.

Proper nutrition in case of illness

The first thing that such a diet requires is the rejection of salted, fatty, pickled, smoked, meat broths, fried, canned food. You should also limit the use of table salt to 7 grams per day.

If you have increased uric acid, you will have to give up foods rich in proteins and purines. These include fatty fish, meat, sausage, liver, kidneys, tongue, chocolate, coffee, legumes, mushrooms.

You will also have to exclude sweets, pastry and puff pastry. Sorrel, spinach, grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, turnips, cauliflower are not suitable for vegetation.

Alcohol is also not allowed, especially beer and wine. Vodka is very rare in small quantities.

Strong black or green tea is excluded from the diet.

Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining optimal blood uric acid levels. Treatment table 6, consisting of complex carbohydrates, reduces the formation of products of purine metabolism and increases the rate of their excretion.

Food with high uric acid should consist of foods with a low purine content, since purine compounds in animal food have a negative effect on the human body.

If the uric acid indicator is increased, then the following foods are allowed to eat:

  • vegetables (beets, potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants);
  • vegetable broths;
  • cereals (buckwheat, rice, millet, oatmeal, etc.);
  • dairy products (low-fat cottage cheese and cheeses, kefir, yogurt);
  • bakery products (black, white bread, biscuit baked goods, bran products);
  • butter;
  • fruits and berries (especially apples, pears, apricots);
  • nuts, dried fruits;
  • fruit and vegetable juices, tea with lemon, compotes, jelly, kvass.
  • eggs (1 pc per day);
  • chicken, turkey (2-3 times a week);
  • lean fish (up to 3 times a week);
  • pickled and salted vegetables (3-4 times a week);
  • greens (sorrel, spinach, parsley).

If uric acid in the blood is increased, then it is forbidden to use:

  • fatty meat, offal;
  • animal fats (lard, lard);
  • sausages;
  • canned fish and meat, smoked meats;
  • meat and fish broths;
  • beans;
  • chocolate, cocoa;
  • strong tea, coffee;
  • alcohol (especially beer).



To reduce the content of uric acid in the blood with the help of medical nutrition, it is necessary not only to strictly monitor the diet, but also to follow the following rules:

  • eat only boiled meat (poultry);
  • during periods of exacerbation of symptoms, it is necessary to strictly limit the diet, eating only vegetables (in the form of stews, soups, etc.) and fruits;
  • drink plenty of water (up to 2 liters per day);
  • eat 4 times a day every 3-4 hours in small portions.

It performs important functions in the human body. However, at its high values, specialists suspect serious health problems of the patient. In this case, treatment is carried out with an integrated approach.

Uric acid - what is this substance and what is its norm

Uric acid is an organic element resulting from the breakdown of purines by xanthine oxidase. It is mainly produced in the liver due to metabolic processes. This substance is found in plasma and, with an increased amount, is a crystalline formation of sodium salts, which are oxidized and remove excess nitrogen from the body.

In the body, this acid performs important functions:

  • Provides stimulation and enhancement of the action of adrenaline and norepinephrine, which affects the functions of the central nervous and peripheral system.
  • It has an antioxidant effect, which is to protect against free radicals and prevent the formation of cancer cells.

The acid level in the blood depends on many factors. In addition, it changes depending on the age and state of health of the person.An increased level of this acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia in medical terminology.

To establish the level of uric acid, experts prescribe. For this you need to donate blood from a vein. To obtain more reliable results in preparation for the study, the following recommendations must be followed:

  • Blood is donated on an empty stomach in the morning.
  • Before the analysis, it is desirable to exclude physical activity and psycho-emotional overstrain.
  • A few days before the study, it is not recommended to consume foods that contain high amounts of purine.
  • When taking medications on the eve of diagnosis, it is important to inform a specialist about this.
  • You can drink only clean, non-carbonated water before donating blood.
  • Quit smoking two hours before the study.

If you suspect certain diseases, the doctor may prescribe additional blood tests.

The rate of uric acid largely depends on the age criterion, as well as gender:

  • In men - from 200 to 420 μmol per liter.
  • In women - from 160 to 320 μmol per liter.
  • For children under 14 years old - from 120 to 300 units of measurement.
  • For men from 60 years old, fluctuations from 240 to 490 μmol per liter are possible.
  • In women over 60 years of age, the normal level is from 210 to 430 μmol.
  • From the age of 90, the normal level is considered to be from 130 to 490.

Why does the level rise, symptoms of high content

Depending on the main reasons for the increase in uric acid, two forms of hyperuricemia are distinguished: primary and secondary.

The primary form is considered congenital, it is also called idiopathic. In this case, during the metabolism of purine, some fermentation disorders occur, so uric acid is produced in excessive quantities. Usually, congenital disease occurs in rare cases.

Such hyperuricemia is provoked by the following conditions:

  • Lesch-Negan Syndrome
  • Kelly-Sigmiller Syndrome
  • Increased production of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase, which occurs as a result of a congenital metabolic disorder

The secondary form is often due to excessive ingestion of purine into the human body along with food. A large amount of this substance is found in foods such as legumes, pork, beef (tongue, liver, brains, kidneys).

In addition, an increased content of uric acid may indicate various pathological processes that occur in the human body.

The main reasons in this case are the following diseases:

  • AIDS
  • Fanconi syndrome
  • Hypereosinophilia (high blood levels of eosinophils)
  • Gout
  • Malignant neoplasm
  • Erysipelas
  • Tuberculosis
  • Psoriasis
  • Leukemia
  • Pneumonia
  • Eczema

The substance increases with severe and extensive burns, diseases of the gallbladder and allergies. Another factor of the high content of this substance in the blood is the intoxication of the body as a result of large doses of alcohol. The factors in which this acid exceeds the norm include overweight, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, depletion of the body, lack of vitamins, physical inactivity, taking diuretics, anti-tuberculosis drugs.

More information about gout can be found in the video:

Hyperuricemia is considered a sign of atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, rheumatism, hypoparathyroidism, acromegaly. Uric acid can increase with toxicosis in pregnant women.

With a high content of a substance in the blood, the following symptoms are observed:

  • The occurrence of dental calculus
  • Decreased performance
  • Sore joints
  • Chronic fatigue
  • General weakness
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Hyperemia of the skin
  • Increased body temperature
  • Digestive disorders
  • Decrease in the amount of urination
  • The fall
  • Weak heartbeat

Also, the pathological condition may be accompanied by other symptoms characteristic of a certain disease, as a result of which uric acid increased.

Treatment with medication

To lower the amount of uric acid, it is important to direct treatment to eliminate the disease that provoked an increase in the substance in the blood. The therapy is carried out with an integrated approach. For this, the following methods are used:

  • Medication.
  • Alternative medicine recipes.
  • Diet.
  • Physiotherapy procedures.

There are many drugs on the pharmaceutical market that effectively remove uric acid from the body and also block its synthesis. These tools include:

  • Diuretics - Furosemide, Mannitol, Hypothiazide, Lasix, Torasemide, Diacarb, Amiloride.
  • Blockers of the synthesis of a substance in the liver - Colchicine, Anturan, Allopurinol, Benzobromarone, Sulfinpyrazole, Urodan.

It is not allowed to use these medicines on your own. Only an experienced specialist can prescribe them and determine the dosage, taking into account the underlying disease, the nature of its course, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient.

Folk remedies

  • Birch leaves
  • Nettle
  • Strawberries and currants (leaves)
  • Cowberry
  • Blueberries
  • Highlander
  • Grape leaves

To prepare these broths, you need to pour a spoonful of raw materials with a glass of boiling water and let it brew.

Carrot tops remove uric acid from the body. It is crushed and poured with boiled water, after which the agent is infused and filtered. Drink a quarter glass three times a day. Fresh carrot juice is also suitable for this purpose.

For gout, which is most often accompanied by a high amount of uric acid, foot baths can be done using a decoction of chamomile, calendula and sage.

Eating with high uric acid levels

If the values ​​of a substance in the blood are increased, then a certain diet should be followed, which requires the refusal of the following foods:

  • Fatty meat broths
  • Smoked meats
  • Pickled vegetables
  • Mushrooms
  • Sorrel
  • Legumes
  • Sour cream
  • Ryazhenka
  • Chocolate
  • Puff pastry or pastry
  • Spices
  • Spices
  • Shrimps

It is important to establish a drinking regime. It is desirable for the patient to drink more than two liters of liquid per day. Better to drink plain water. The use of coffee, tea should be limited, and carbonated drinks and energy drinks should be completely excluded from the diet. It is also forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages.Food with an increased acid content should be fractional.Fasting is strongly discouraged.

Fresh vegetables, berries and fruits, as well as juices from them, low-fat dairy products should be consumed daily.

For hyperuricemia, physiotherapy is also used. The most commonly prescribed hirudotherapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, acupressure, stone and moxibustion.

Possible complications

With a prolonged increase in the substance in the body, sodium salts are deposited in the organs, as a result of which they are damaged. Such a violation leads to severe complications, which include the following pathologies:

  • Angina pectoris
  • Hypertension
  • Myocardial infarction

In case of damage to the nervous system, the following conditions may occur:

  • Aggression
  • Sleep problems
  • Deterioration of vision
  • Migraine

To prevent such complications, it is important to follow all the instructions of the attending physician.

Uric acid is present in the body of every person, its rate can change during the day under the influence of some everyday factors, for example, such as increased physical activity, diet, etc.

Such fluctuations in a healthy body occur within normal limits and do not cause any discomfort. But if uric acid is elevated for a long period, then each person will feel not very good symptoms that will need to be treated after diagnosis, that is, after passing an analysis for the rate of uric acid in the body.

Every day we eat various foodstuffs that enter the body, are exposed to various enzymes, one of them is the enzyme - xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for the production of purine molecules, which after "working off" are converted into uric acid. Part of the urea is constantly present in the body within normal limits, and the excess is excreted by the kidneys.

Therefore, you need to determine the reason if you have increased uric acid in the blood - what is it: the result of physical activity, the consequence of a diet, or a sign of serious organic pathology.

Uric acid performs quite important functions in the human body:

  1. Strengthens and activates the action of adrenaline and norepinephrine - what stimulates the brain and nervous system;
  2. Antioxidant , that is, it protects the body from free radicals and prevents cancerous degeneration of cells.

An increase in the level of urea in the blood is called hyperuricemia.

A short-term increase in the level of uric acid in the blood can be caused by the following reasons:

  • excess protein foods;
  • physical exercise;
  • prolonged fasting;
  • alcohol abuse.

A constant and pathological increase in uric acid in the blood - hyperuricemia is usually associated with diseases of internal organs and systems or a genetic predisposition.

There are 2 types of hyperuricemia:

  • primary (idiopathic) - a hereditary disease that manifests itself in connection with violations of purine metabolism in the body. This type of hyperuricemia is most often diagnosed in young children and is not common;
  • secondary - a more common type of hyperuricemia, which occurs in 99% of cases. In this case, an excess of uric acid and crystallization of salts are associated with disturbances in the process of its metabolism in the liver or pathology of the excretory organs.

Idiopathic hyperuricemia can cause:

  • Lesch-Negan syndrome;
  • Kelly-Sigmiller syndrome;
  • the presence of congenital fermentopathy.

Secondary occurs in diseases:

  • inflammatory diseases of the liver and gallbladder- hepatitis, cholecystitis, cirrhosis cause a violation of the formation of uric acid;
  • internal organ infection- an increase in the concentration of uric acid occurs in acute and chronic inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract;
  • inflammatory kidney disease(for example, pyelonephritis) - which are the cause of a violation of the filtration function of the kidneys, as a result of which urea in the blood is not completely excreted from the body and its level in the blood rises significantly;
  • endocrine system diseases such as: metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes mellitus;
  • hypo- and avitaminosis- a lack of vitamin B 12 and some others also leads to impaired metabolism of purine molecules and provokes an increase in the level of uric acid;
  • allergic diseases- bronchial asthma or urticaria also lead to an increase in the concentration of uric acid;
  • toxicosis- severe toxicosis during pregnancy can cause the development of acidosis and an increase in the amount of uric acid in the body;
  • dermatological diseases- eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis also affect the level of this substance in the blood;
  • oncological diseases ;
  • with prolonged taking medications- anti-tuberculosis drugs, diuretics, NSAIDs and some other drugs can cause disorders of the metabolism of purine bases;
  • change in alkaline equilibrium - with acidosis, there is a significant increase in this component in the blood;
  • alcohol poisoning.

According to statistics, representatives of the stronger sex are more likely to face this problem. In men, an increased rate of urea in the blood is three times more likely than in women. The symptoms of an increase in blood urea are as follows:

  • Joint pain- appears as a result of crystallization of sodium salts. Moreover, at the initial stage of hyperuricemia, pain occurs in the small joints of the foot, with a more advanced version, the elbow and knee joints also suffer. Therefore, a person begins to experience sharp pain even with the slightest movement. In addition, swelling and redness of the skin are observed in places where salts are deposited, sometimes the skin in these areas becomes hot.
  • Back pain, in the lower abdomen or during urination, as a result of injury to internal organs, which also suffer from an excess of uric acid.
  • Increased blood pressure, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction can occur due to the loss of elasticity of blood vessels due to crystallization of the same sodium salts.
  • Insomnia, headache, unexplained aggression either vision problems in case of damage to the nervous system.
  • Gout.
  • Decrease quantityurine output.

If a man or woman has the above symptoms, or a disease, it is necessary to take an analysis for the level of uric acid in the body several times in order to see the dynamics.

In small children an increase in urea in the blood is a rare phenomenon, but in this case, children may experience the following symptoms:

Such children often begin to be treated for allergies, unaware of the cause of its manifestation.

In children school age may take place:

  • abdominal pain;
  • trouble speaking (stuttering);
  • nervous tic;
  • daytime or nocturnal enuresis.

It is possible to diagnose this failure of the body only with the help of a blood test.

For diagnosis, it is necessary to pass a standard biochemical blood test.

For the results to be as accurate as possible, it is necessary to start preparing for blood donation in advance, 3 days before the analysis, you must follow a purine diet.

The day before the biochemical analysis you need:

  1. Refuse to drink juices, tea, coffee.
  2. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or chew gum.
  3. It is desirable that at least 12 hours have passed since the moment of eating.
  4. Eliminate psycho-emotional stress and stress.
  5. Blood should be donated in the morning.

The analysis should be deciphered by the attending physician.

Based on materials from mamaschool.ru

1. Congenital (hereditary) causes of increased blood counts are genetic diseases:

  • hereditary idiopathic familial hyperuricemia;
  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

In hereditary diseases, hyperuricemia is observed as a result of a deficiency of a number of enzymes that control the processes of purine metabolism (for example, the enzyme hypoxanthine).

2. Acquired reasons. Increased uric acid in the blood can be caused by physiological reasons (active breakdown of purines) or by a pathological state of internal organs.

Factors that activate purine metabolism and an excessive increase in uric acid include the following:

  • alcohol abuse;
  • food with protein products of animal origin;
  • physical activity, strength training;
  • prolonged fasting;
  • long-term use of medications that affect the release of uric acid compounds (ethambutol, pyrazinamide, levadop, salicylates, etc.).

Also, among the reasons for the increase in the level of uric acid in the blood, the following diseases are distinguished:

  • inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, nephritis) and renal failure, in which the organ's ability to filter blood plasma deteriorates;
  • disorders of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, acidosis, hypothyroidism);
  • blood diseases (hemolysis, polycythemia);
  • oncological processes (leukemia, lymphoma);
  • obesity;
  • liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
  • inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis);
  • dermatological diseases (psoriasis);
  • severe allergic reactions;
  • toxicosis in pregnant women.

In some cases, uric acid can rise in the blood during severe infectious diseases such as scarlet fever, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.

The level of uric acid compounds depends on many factors: gender, age, weight, nutrition, sports, genetic predisposition.

The norm of uric acid in the blood for children, regardless of gender, is 140-200 μmol / liter. Such a low rate of analysis is due to the fact that in children under 14 years old, the processes of anabolism (an increase in the number of cells), and not catabolism (protein breakdown), prevail.

But by what signs can you determine that uric acid is elevated? Symptoms may vary from person to person and are usually not attributed to hyperuricemia.

Most often, a change in blood content is accompanied by rapid fatigue or chronic fatigue and the formation of tartar. If hyperurekimia has a concomitant disease (gout, HA, diabetes mellitus, etc.), it manifests itself in symptoms characteristic of this pathology.

In childhood, an increase in uric acid can be determined by the fact that diathesis bright red spots appear on the hands and / or cheeks.

As a rule, signs of the disease appear with a significant increase in the concentration of uric acid compounds. In adults, especially in men over 50, the symptoms of high uric acid levels are as follows:

  • pain in the joints of the big toes and in the heels when walking;
  • the painful joint becomes inflamed and reddened;
  • pain while urinating;
  • pain in the abdomen and lower back;
  • frequent headache;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • rapid formation of tartar;
  • disruption of the brain (memory impairment, bad mood, nervousness);
  • chronic fatigue.

A blood test is needed to accurately determine if your body has elevated uric acid levels. To obtain accurate results, three days before the delivery of the biomaterial, you need to adhere to a diet in which alcohol and protein products are completely excluded.

Also, food intake should be stopped 8 hours before the analysis. For research, venous blood is taken.

The direction can be prescribed by such doctors: urologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, nephrologist.

Treatment with drugs should only take place as directed by a doctor. The medical method of excretion of uric acid is carried out under the supervision of a specialist who will regularly prescribe appropriate tests.

To cleanse the body, the doctor prescribes diuretic drugs that remove uric acid. Next, medications are prescribed that inhibit the synthesis of this product, usually "Allopurinol" or its analogues.

To achieve the effect, strict adherence to the medication regimen is required for four weeks or more. Also, the doctor may consider it necessary to prescribe prophylactic drugs, for example, "Koltsikhin".

In order to reduce the level of uric acid in the body, it is necessary to use medication in combination with adherence to a diet. Comprehensive treatment is aimed at:

  • elimination of symptoms of the disease with anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • removal of urates;
  • normalization of metabolism.

Drugs that lower the level of uric acid are divided into groups depending on the effect they have:

  • excretion of uric acid in the urine (probenecid, sodium bicarbonate, sulfinpyrazone);
  • elimination of metabolites from tissues into blood plasma (Zinhoven);
  • a decrease in the activity of purine metabolism, as a result of which the amount of acid produced decreases (allomaton, allopurinol);
  • diuretic drugs that activate the kidneys (furosemide, mannitol, lasix).

Folk recipes are an additional method by which you can remove uric acid from the body. As a rule, medicinal herbs are used for this purpose, which have a diuretic effect and help to reduce the level of uric acid.

The first thing that such a diet requires is the rejection of salted, fatty, pickled, smoked, meat broths, fried, canned food. You should also limit the use of table salt to 7 grams per day.

If you have increased uric acid, you will have to give up foods rich in proteins and purines. These include fatty fish, meat, sausage, liver, kidneys, tongue, chocolate, coffee, legumes, mushrooms.

You will also have to exclude sweets, pastry and puff pastry. Sorrel, spinach, grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, turnips, cauliflower are not suitable for vegetation.

Alcohol is also not allowed, especially beer and wine. Vodka is very rare in small quantities.

Strong black or green tea is excluded from the diet.

Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining optimal blood uric acid levels. Treatment table 6, consisting of complex carbohydrates, reduces the formation of products of purine metabolism and increases the rate of their excretion.

Food with high uric acid should consist of foods with a low purine content, since purine compounds in animal food have a negative effect on the human body.

If the uric acid indicator is increased, then the following foods are allowed to eat:

  • vegetables (beets, potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants);
  • vegetable broths;
  • cereals (buckwheat, rice, millet, oatmeal, etc.);
  • dairy products (low-fat cottage cheese and cheeses, kefir, yogurt);
  • bakery products (black, white bread, biscuit baked goods, bran products);
  • butter;
  • fruits and berries (especially apples, pears, apricots);
  • nuts, dried fruits;
  • fruit and vegetable juices, tea with lemon, compotes, jelly, kvass.
  • eggs (1 pc per day);
  • chicken, turkey (2-3 times a week);
  • lean fish (up to 3 times a week);
  • pickled and salted vegetables (3-4 times a week);
  • greens (sorrel, spinach, parsley).

If uric acid in the blood is increased, then it is forbidden to use:

  • fatty meat, offal;
  • animal fats (lard, lard);
  • sausages;
  • canned fish and meat, smoked meats;
  • meat and fish broths;
  • beans;
  • chocolate, cocoa;
  • strong tea, coffee;
  • alcohol (especially beer).


To reduce the content of uric acid in the blood with the help of medical nutrition, it is necessary not only to strictly monitor the diet, but also to follow the following rules:

  • eat only boiled meat (poultry);
  • during periods of exacerbation of symptoms, it is necessary to strictly limit the diet, eating only vegetables (in the form of stews, soups, etc.) and fruits;
  • drink plenty of water (up to 2 liters per day);
  • eat 4 times a day every 3-4 hours in small portions.

Based on materials from redpotnica.ru

The course of the disease and its symptoms are different and depend on the degree, complexity, type and form of the disease, the patient's age and the climatic zone in which he lives.

The rash mainly concentrates on the scalp under the scalp, symmetrically in the bends of the knee and elbow joints, on the lower back, but can also spread over the entire surface of the body.

There are 3 stages in the development of psoriasis:

  • Progressive, which is characterized by the formation of new papules with a red rim, prone to enlargement and fusion with each other.
  • Regressive, in which the papules begin to flatten, turn pale and dissolve, peeling decreases, after the disappearance of the papules, an increase in pigmentation is observed in their place, or vice versa, the appearance of white spots.
  • Stationary - new papules are no longer formed, but those that are there remain unchanged.

The duration of each stage is determined by the general condition of the body and can take several months.

There are several forms of clinical manifestation of psoriasis, which depend on the severity and localization of the rash, the patient's condition:

  • Vulgar (simple) psoriasis - develops on the bends of the knees, on the surface of the spots are silvery-white scales.
  • Exudative - on the bends of the knees and elbows, on the surface of spots of a yellow crust.
  • Inverse - psoriasis often accompanying endocrine pathology, rashes in large folds on the body.
  • Pustular - can be all over the body or localized on the feet and palms, accompanied by the formation of pustules.
  • Seborrheic - occurs in patients with seborrhea, the scales stick together and form yellow crusts.
  • Psoriasis of the palms and soles - often occurs in people of working professions, at the same time appears on the palms and soles of the feet.
  • Psoriasis of nails - the nail plate thickens and deforms, dotted depressions are observed on their surface.
  • Psoriatic erythroderma is a complex form of the disease, the rash covers the entire surface of the body.
  • Arthropathic psoriasis - in addition to typical rashes on the surface of the skin, joints are affected.
  • Guttate psoriasis - manifests itself in the form of small, droplet-like rashes on the trunk or legs.

Uric acid is a substance that is formed in our body during the chemical decomposition of nitrogenous components of DNA and amino acids. Most of the uric acid is produced during cell remodeling and replacement, while a small part comes from food.

If the level of uric acid is elevated, this means that there are problems with the removal and utilization of this substance, or its overproduction.

Uric acid in the blood binds to transport proteins and is eliminated through the kidneys. About 450 mg of uric acid is excreted daily through the urine.

This helps maintain normal uric acid levels in the blood, in particular:

  • for men, between 3.2 and 8.1 mg / dL of blood.
  • for women, between 2.2 and 7.1 mg / dL of blood.

Given the above values, hyperuricemia, that is, an increased level of uric acid in the blood, can be said when a man has a concentration above 8 mg / dL, and a woman has a concentration above 7, but, in some laboratories, values ​​above 7 mg / dL are considered dangerous for for men and above 6.5 mg / dL for women.

As for uric acid in urine, it must also be present in limited quantities. Values ​​for both men and women are considered normal in the range between 250 and 750 mg in urine collected over 24 hours.

What causes the increase in the concentration of uric acid? The reasons for the increase in the level of this substance in the blood and urine can be pathological conditions or problems with eating behavior.

Among the diseases that cause an increase in uric acid, we have:

  • Tumor lysis syndrome: This is a condition that occurs in certain types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, as a consequence of antiblastic therapy, which determines the mass lysis of cancer cells, resulting in the formation of large volumes of uric acid.
  • Glycogenous disease type 1: this pathology is one of the reasons for the increased concentration of uric acid in children. It is associated with a deficiency in glycogen metabolism enzymes and causes the accumulation of glycogen in certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, resulting in symptoms such as hyperuricemia and increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
  • Psoriasis: Those who suffer from this autoimmune disease, which mainly affects the skin, may have elevated blood uric acid levels.
  • Polycythemia: This is a disease that determines the overproduction of blood cells. Overproduction of cells leads to an increase in the number of dying cells, which leads to an increase in the concentration of uric acid.
  • Hemolysis: Like tumor lysis syndrome, hemolysis, that is, the breakdown of red blood cells in the blood, causes the release of cell contents into the bloodstream and increases the production of cellular waste such as uric acid.
  • Diabetes: People with diabetes are often in a state of metabolic acidosis, that is, a low blood pH. Metabolic acidosis can cause an increase in uric acid levels and the formation of kidney stones.
  • Renal failure: In chronic renal failure, uric acid levels may rise, because the kidneys do not work properly, uric acid is not removed correctly and accumulates in the body.

Non-pathological conditions that determine the increase in uric acid are mainly associated with diet and the use of certain medications:

  • Alcoholism: Alcohol abuse leads to an increase in uric acid levels, as alcohol decreases the excretion of uric acid and increases its production in the body.
  • Wrong diet: Diet may be responsible for the increase in uric acid concentration. If you eat foods rich in purines, such as organ meats (liver, brain, etc.), game, anchovies, in excessive quantities, or if you eat large amounts of animal proteins, this leads to an increase in the production of uric acid in the body, followed by hyperuricemia.
  • Medicines: The use of certain medications, such as diuretics, levodopa and cyclosporine, can increase the concentration of uric acid in the blood and urine because they increase endogenous production and decrease excretion.

What to do when you find high uric acid levels? In many cases, it is sufficient to use natural remedies or follow dietary recommendations.

When hyperuricemia is associated with pathology, diet or herbal medicine will not be sufficient to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood and urine will require drug therapy.

Ash: This plant contains many active substances, including phrases, coumarins, flavonoids, malic acid, tannins and polyphenols. They help the metabolism of purines and therefore stimulate the excretion of uric acid.

The bark and leaves are used in the form:

  • capsules, the dosage is two capsules twice a day
  • tincture, dosage - 30 drops three times a day
  • infusion, just brew about 8 g of ash leaves in a cup of hot water, strain and drink.

Birch: The active ingredients of birch, including hyperosides, tannins, caffeic acid and triterpene alcohols, help against hyperuricemia.

Birch leaves and bark are used in the form:

  • capsules, it is recommended to take two capsules after meals, twice a day
  • juice concentrate, it is recommended to take 40 drops twice a day
  • infusion, brew two tablespoons of dried birch leaves in warm water, leave to infuse for a quarter of an hour, and then strain and drink when you want.

Proper nutrition is essential to prevent the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Some foods help clear the buildup of uric acid from the body, while other foods promote the buildup.

Foods to Avoid: All foods that are high in purines. This includes offal, meat broths and extracts, herring, mackerel, caviar, eggs, shellfish, mussels, game. All alcoholic drinks are prohibited.

Foods to limit: These are foods that have a medium purine content, such as white meat, sea bass, halibut, trout and hake. Limit certain types of vegetables such as bell peppers, peas, asparagus, cauliflower and lentils, and certain types of fruits such as watermelon, chestnuts, medlar, and almonds.

Preferred foods: those that are low in purines. Among them we have milk and dairy products, eggs, pasta, rice, cheeses (mozzarella, ricotta and scamorza), vegetables such as beets, potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, lettuce and endives, and fruits such as apricots, apples, peaches, pears and cherries.

Drug therapy is used only when an elevated level of uric acid determines the onset of diseases such as gout, or when it is a consequence of another pathology.

The most commonly used medications are:

  • Allopurinol: it influences the synthesis of uric acid by blocking its production and therefore contributes to a decrease in concentration.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: medicines used to treat acute inflammation, including those caused by uric acid crystal deposition. However, they have many side effects, in particular, they negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Paracetamol: is an effective pain reliever that can counteract pain caused by inflammation.

Usually, psoriasis is identified after examining the patient without any tests. Analyzes are prescribed when it is difficult to diagnose by external signs.

Complete blood count (without ESR and leukocyte count) - psoriasis can be a companion of leukocytosis and anemia.

Rheumatoid factor - detects a protein, the level of which can increase during systemic inflammatory processes. The test result for psoriasis should be negative. This is a hallmark of psoriasis from rheumatoid arthritis, in which this factor is increased.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is usually normal, with the exception of psoriatic erythroderma and pustular psoriasis.

Uric acid - its level in psoriasis is increased, psoriatic arthritis can resemble gout, in which a significant excess of the concentration of uric acid in the blood is characteristic.

Antibodies to HIV - HIV infection can trigger the sudden onset of psoriasis.

Genetic predisposition - 30-50% of patients have relatives with manifestations of psoriasis. For the onset of the disease, the chromosome section is responsible, which determines the degree of the inflammatory process on the skin.

Psychological condition - often the cause of psoriasis is emotional shock and stress.

The negative influence of the environment - the cold climate contributes to the development of the disease.

Skin trauma - often psoriasis develops at the sites of cuts, burns, abrasions.

Medications - An allergic reaction from medications used can serve as a good environment for the development of psoriasis.

Symptoms that are associated with an increased level of uric acid can be of a physical type or "laboratory", that is, they are reflected only in the parameters of the blood test.

Among the symptoms of the physical type, we have:

  • Joint pain: are caused by uric acid deposits in the joints and are accompanied by swelling and edema in the joints, as well as fever. This is usually one of the main symptoms of gout.
  • Hypertension: Uric acid crystals can be deposited on the walls of blood vessels, causing damage to the vascular endothelium. This can lead to a decrease in the lumen of the vessel, which leads to the development of hypertension.
  • Colic of the kidneys: The deposition of uric acid crystals at the level of the renal tubules can lead to very painful renal colic.
  • Itching: hyperuricemia can cause itching, localized in the joints (in this case, the diagnosis will be directed towards gout) or systemic (in this case, chronic renal failure is suspected).

Laboratory symptoms include:

  • High cholesterol: often hyperuricemia is also associated with hypercholesterolemia. The relationship between these two parameters is not clear, but it seems that the reason lies in the consumption of fatty meat and the presence of hypertension.
  • High ferritin: Hyperuricemia is accompanied by an increase in ferritin levels.
  • High ESR: An increase in uric acid levels and a simultaneous acceleration of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can direct the diagnosis towards gout.

Excess uric acid in the blood can lead to life-threatening consequences in the long term.

  • Gout: This is an inflammatory pathology, which is characterized by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. This causes inflammation of the joint, which swells, hurts, and sometimes has a fever. Uric acid crystals can also be deposited at the level of certain organs, such as the kidneys, causing organ malfunction and damage.
  • Kidney problems: Excess uric acid can lead to various kidney problems. In particular, it can determine the formation of stones, the development of nephropathy, acute renal failure.
  • Diabetes and diseases of the cardiovascular system: High levels of uric acid can lead to diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, but all studies have failed to find mechanisms leading to this.
  • Toxicosis of pregnant women: Apparently, high levels of uric acid during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, can cause toxicosis in pregnant women. The study found that 90% of women who had high levels of uric acid during pregnancy often complained of toxicosis.

The first visible sign of psoriasis is the appearance of a rash with a diameter of about 1 to 2 mm. These are pustules that look like small pink or bright red bumps, and loose silvery-white scales can be observed on their surface. Later, the papules enlarge and reach the size of a drop, later - coins. After a while, these areas begin to merge and form foci.

Depending on the characteristics of the rash, there are 3 forms of psoriasis:

  • Guttate psoriasis - tear-shaped papules.
  • Punctate psoriasis - the size of the rash is smaller than the head of a pin.
  • Coin-shaped psoriasis - plaques with rounded edges and grows up to 3-5 mm.

The papules are covered with scales that can be easily removed. These are keratinized cells of the epidermis. A pink rim may form around such a rash - this is the growth zone of the spot.

Psoriasis is characterized by disturbances in the process of cell formation - new cells are formed very quickly, while old ones do not have time to die off. They are layered on top of each other and form a kind of growths - plaques.

The appearance of plaques in psoriasis depends on the type of disease. Often they are crusts with a gray, yellow-brown or silvery shade on the surface of the reddened skin.

The plaques are usually round in shape, sometimes some bends are observed. Their diameter ranges from 2 to 8 cm. The shape and prevalence of plaques depends on the general condition of the body, nutrition, psycho-emotional mood and weather.

Psoriasis plaques tend to grow along the periphery, combine with each other and form huge spots or foci, while the affected area can cover an area of ​​more than half of the human body surface. But sometimes only one or two plaques can be observed on the body without a tendency to grow.

In the center of the foci of inflammation, the process of resorption begins over time - these areas turn pale, flatten. The inflammatory process grows along the edges of the focus and takes on a varied shape in the form of rings, arcs, garlands, or have a bizarre shape in the form of geographical maps.

When psoriasis passes into the stationary stage, the spread of plaques throughout the body stops and new spots no longer appear. At this stage, the scales completely cover the spots. Over time, they peel off and only traces of plaques remain on the skin - pigmented spots, they do not protrude above the surface of the skin. These spots fade with the skin tone over time and disappear. Dosed exposure to the sun has a positive effect on the evening of skin color.

The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, but according to scientists, the true causes of the disease lie in the psychological and mental state of a person. The disease can begin from the patient's dissatisfaction with the appearance of his body, position in society, the world around him.

Often the localization of the rash indicates the causes of psoriasis. So, in patients who believe that those around them are underestimated, the symptoms of psoriasis appear on the head, and psoriasis on the hands may indicate misunderstandings with family and friends.

In the treatment of psoriasis, it is important to use not only drugs, but also to learn how to suppress negative emotions, be able to adapt to others, and compromise.

The diagnosis of "psoriasis" is established by the doctor, while taking into account:

  • clinical picture of the disease;
  • symptoms of the psoriatic triad;
  • the presence of the Kebner phenomenon in a progressive stage.

The phenomenon of stearin spot - when scraping the papule, peeling can be observed, which outwardly resembles pounded stearin.

Terminal film phenomenon - after removing the scales, a smooth, shiny surface can be observed.

The phenomenon of pinpoint bleeding is the appearance of individual droplets of blood on the surface of the terminal film after it is scraped off.

The Kebner phenomenon is a manifestation of new rashes at the site of irritations, which are observed in the acute phase of the disease.

In some cases, a histological examination of the affected tissue is additionally carried out for such changes:

  • lack of a granular layer;
  • acanthosis with lengthening of the epidermal processes;
  • increased vascularization;
  • thinning of the growth layer of the epidermis over the elongated and edematous dermal papillae;
  • Munro microabscesses;
  • the predominance of lymphohistiocytic infiltration around the vessels.

Based on materials from izlechi-psoriaz.ru

For decades, doctors have been talking about the relationship between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and gout. They are united by uric acid. Uric acid is a substance formed during the breakdown of purines in the body, which are found in many products and cells of the human body.

In gout, uric acid builds up in the joints and tissues around them, often around the thumb. This is how needle crystals form, causing sudden severe pain and swelling. If left untreated, gout becomes a chronic condition and can damage the joints. In psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, uric acid is thought to be a byproduct of rapid cell turnover and systemic inflammation.

An article was published in the journal "Drug Development Research" (2014), where Italian scientists determined the level of uric acid in the blood of 338 patients with psoriasis. Studies have shown that 20% (67 out of 338) of patients examined suffer from hyperuricemia (high levels of uric acid in the blood).

Another study by the same group of scientists was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in the same year. This time they examined 119 people with psoriasis and 119 healthy people. It was found that patients with psoriasis are 3 times more likely to have hyperuricemia. If we exclude age, sex and other factors in the development of hyperuricemia, then psoriasis is the main cause of this problem.

In 2014, another large study was carried out, published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. This study also confirmed the association of high blood uric acid levels with psoriasis and especially psoriatic arthritis. This time, scientists examined nearly 99,000 people - 28,000 men and 71,000 women. Among them were both healthy people and people suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. At the very beginning and throughout the entire survey, each participant regularly filled out a questionnaire about their health and lifestyle, which made it possible to identify the main risk factors for the development of the disease. As a result, 4.9% of men and 1.9% of women developed gout.

By controlling various factors, the researchers concluded that the risk of developing gout in men is about 2 times higher than in women. The risk of developing gout in women with psoriasis was 1.5 times higher than in healthy women. Men and women with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are 5 times more likely to develop gout than healthy people of both sexes.

However, the researchers are not entirely sure of the assumptions that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis actually cause gout. “Research has shown that there is a causal relationship between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and gout. However, one can only talk about a connection, ”says study author Joseph Merola, MD and co-director of the center for skin and related diseases of the musculoskeletal system at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Scientists say the research they get is very important for a variety of reasons. For example, they can help a doctor diagnose gout when patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis complain of swollen joints or occasional severe pain in them.

“We can find out the uric acid level by taking a blood test or make a diagnosis by simply examining the fluid taken from the patient's joint,” says Dr. Merola.

Another reason is that medications used to treat psoriasis may be helpful in treating gout. Preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of gout are necessary for patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

“This research complements our clinical observations and current knowledge,” says Jaswinder Singh, a rheumatologist and professor in the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“If doctors and patients are concerned about developing gout in psoriasis, they must take precautionary measures. Changes in the patient's diet and lifestyle should reduce the risk of developing gout. It remains to be seen how much we can reduce this risk by changing our diet and lifestyle, but now we must apply this strategy. Further research should help doctors understand how the disease develops and determine why there is a risk of gout, ”says Dr. Singh.

Based on materials from artritpobedim.ru

The course of the disease and its symptoms are different and depend on the degree, complexity, type and form of the disease, the patient's age and the climatic zone in which he lives.

The rash mainly concentrates on the scalp under the scalp, symmetrically in the bends of the knee and elbow joints, on the lower back, but can also spread over the entire surface of the body.

There are 3 stages in the development of psoriasis:

  • Progressing, which is characterized by the formation of new papules with a red rim, prone to enlargement and fusion with each other.
  • Regressive, in which the papules begin to flatten, turn pale and dissolve, peeling decreases, after the disappearance of the papules, an increase in pigmentation is observed in their place, or vice versa, the appearance of white spots.
  • Stationary - new papules are no longer formed, but those that are there remain unchanged.

The duration of each stage is determined by the general condition of the body and can take several months.

There are several forms of clinical manifestation of psoriasis, which depend on the severity and localization of the rash, the patient's condition:

  • Vulgar (simple) psoriasis - develops on the bends of the knees, on the surface of the spots are silvery-white scales.
  • Exudative - on the bends of the knees and elbows, on the surface of spots of a yellow crust.
  • Inverse - psoriasis often accompanying endocrine pathology, rashes in large folds on the body.
  • Pustular - can be all over the body or localized on the feet and palms, accompanied by the formation of pustules.
  • Seborrheic - occurs in patients with seborrhea, the scales stick together and form yellow crusts.
  • Psoriasis of the palms and soles- often occurs in people of working professions, at the same time appears on the palms and soles of the feet.
  • Psoriasis of nails - the nail plate thickens and deforms, dotted depressions are observed on their surface.
  • Psoriatic erythroderma- This is a complex form of the disease, the rash covers the entire surface of the body.
  • Arthropathic psoriasis- in addition to typical rashes on the surface of the skin, joints are affected.
  • Guttate psoriasis- manifests itself in the form of small, drop-like rashes on the trunk or legs.

What is uric acid

Uric acid is a substance that is formed in our body during the chemical decomposition of nitrogenous components of DNA and amino acids. Most of the uric acid is produced during cell remodeling and replacement, while a small part comes from food.

If the level of uric acid is elevated, this means that there are problems with the removal and utilization of this substance, or its overproduction.

Given the above values, hyperuricemia, that is, an increased level of uric acid in the blood, can be said when a man has a concentration above 8 mg / dL, and a woman has a concentration above 7, but, in some laboratories, values ​​above 7 mg / dL are considered dangerous for for men and above 6.5 mg / dL for women.

What causes the increase in the concentration of uric acid? The reasons for the increase in the level of this substance in the blood and urine can be pathological conditions or problems with eating behavior.

Among the diseases that cause an increase in uric acid, we have:

  • Tumor lysis syndrome: This is a condition that occurs in certain types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, as a consequence of antiblastic therapy, which determines the mass lysis of cancer cells, resulting in the formation of large volumes of uric acid.
  • Glycogenous disease type 1: this pathology is one of the reasons for the increased concentration of uric acid in children. It is associated with a deficiency in glycogen metabolism enzymes and causes the accumulation of glycogen in certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, resulting in symptoms such as hyperuricemia and increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
  • Psoriasis: Those who suffer from this autoimmune disease, which mainly affects the skin, may have elevated blood uric acid levels.
  • Polycythemia: This is a disease that determines the overproduction of blood cells. Overproduction of cells leads to an increase in the number of dying cells, which leads to an increase in the concentration of uric acid.
  • Hemolysis: Like tumor lysis syndrome, hemolysis, that is, the breakdown of red blood cells in the blood, causes the release of cell contents into the bloodstream and increases the production of cellular waste such as uric acid.
  • Diabetes: People with diabetes are often in a state of metabolic acidosis, that is, a low blood pH. Metabolic acidosis can cause an increase in uric acid levels and the formation of kidney stones.
  • Renal failure: In chronic renal failure, uric acid levels may rise, because the kidneys do not work properly, uric acid is not removed correctly and accumulates in the body.

Non-pathological conditions that determine the increase in uric acid are mainly associated with diet and the use of certain medications:

  • Alcoholism: Alcohol abuse leads to an increase in uric acid levels, as alcohol decreases the excretion of uric acid and increases its production in the body.
  • Wrong diet: Diet may be responsible for the increase in uric acid concentration. If you eat foods rich in purines, such as organ meats (liver, brain, etc.), game, anchovies, in excessive quantities, or if you eat large amounts of animal proteins, this leads to an increase in the production of uric acid in the body, followed by hyperuricemia.
  • Medicines: The use of certain medications, such as diuretics, levodopa and cyclosporine, can increase the concentration of uric acid in the blood and urine because they increase endogenous production and decrease excretion.

What to do when you find high uric acid levels? In many cases, it is sufficient to use natural remedies or follow dietary recommendations.

When hyperuricemia is associated with pathology, diet or herbal medicine will not be sufficient to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood and urine will require drug therapy.

Natural remedies for normalizing uric acid levels

Ash: This plant contains many active substances, including phrases, coumarins, flavonoids, malic acid, tannins and polyphenols. They help the metabolism of purines and therefore stimulate the excretion of uric acid.

The bark and leaves are used in the form:

  • capsules, the dosage is two capsules twice a day
  • tincture, dosage - 30 drops three times a day
  • infusion, just brew about 8 g of ash leaves in a cup of hot water, strain and drink.

Birch: The active ingredients of birch, including hyperosides, tannins, caffeic acid and triterpene alcohols, help against hyperuricemia.

Birch leaves and bark are used in the form:

  • capsules, it is recommended to take two capsules after meals, twice a day
  • juice concentrate, it is recommended to take 40 drops twice a day
  • infusion, brew two tablespoons of dried birch leaves in warm water, leave to infuse for a quarter of an hour, and then strain and drink when you want.

Food: what to eat and what to avoid high uric acid levels

Proper nutrition is essential to prevent the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Some foods help clear the buildup of uric acid from the body, while other foods promote the buildup.

Foods to Avoid: All foods that are high in purines. This includes offal, meat broths and extracts, herring, mackerel, caviar, eggs, shellfish, mussels, game. All alcoholic drinks are prohibited.

Foods to limit: These are foods that have a medium purine content, such as white meat, sea bass, halibut, trout and hake. Limit certain types of vegetables such as bell peppers, peas, asparagus, cauliflower and lentils, and certain types of fruits such as watermelon, chestnuts, medlar, and almonds.

Preferred foods: those that are low in purines. Among them we have milk and dairy products, eggs, pasta, rice, cheeses (mozzarella, ricotta and scamorza), vegetables such as beets, potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, lettuce and endives, and fruits such as apricots, apples, peaches, pears and cherries.

Drug therapy for increased uric acid levels

Drug therapy is used only when an elevated level of uric acid determines the onset of diseases such as gout, or when it is a consequence of another pathology.

The most commonly used medications are:

  • Allopurinol: it influences the synthesis of uric acid by blocking its production and therefore contributes to a decrease in concentration.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: medicines used to treat acute inflammation, including those caused by uric acid crystal deposition. However, they have many side effects, in particular, they negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Paracetamol: is an effective pain reliever that can counteract pain caused by inflammation.

Usually, psoriasis is identified after examining the patient without any tests. Analyzes are prescribed when it is difficult to diagnose by external signs.

Complete blood count (without ESR and leukocyte count) - psoriasis can be a companion of leukocytosis and anemia.

Rheumatoid factor - detects a protein, the level of which can increase during systemic inflammatory processes. The test result for psoriasis should be negative. This is a hallmark of psoriasis from rheumatoid arthritis, in which this factor is increased.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is usually normal, with the exception of psoriatic erythroderma and pustular psoriasis.

Uric acid - its level in psoriasis is increased, psoriatic arthritis can resemble gout, in which a significant excess of the concentration of uric acid in the blood is characteristic.

Antibodies to HIV - HIV infection can trigger the sudden onset of psoriasis.

Onset of psoriasis

Genetic predisposition - 30-50% of patients have relatives with manifestations of psoriasis. For the onset of the disease, the chromosome section is responsible, which determines the degree of the inflammatory process on the skin.

Psychological condition - often the cause of psoriasis is emotional shock and stress.

The negative influence of the environment - the cold climate contributes to the development of the disease.

Skin trauma - often psoriasis develops at the sites of cuts, burns, abrasions.

Medications - An allergic reaction from medications used can serve as a good environment for the development of psoriasis.

Symptoms associated with hyperuricemia

Symptoms that are associated with an increased level of uric acid can be of a physical type or "laboratory", that is, they are reflected only in the parameters of the blood test.

Among the symptoms of the physical type, we have:

  • Joint pain: are caused by uric acid deposits in the joints and are accompanied by swelling and edema in the joints, as well as fever. This is usually one of the main symptoms of gout.
  • Hypertension: Uric acid crystals can be deposited on the walls of blood vessels, causing damage to the vascular endothelium. This can lead to a decrease in the lumen of the vessel, which leads to the development of hypertension.
  • Colic of the kidneys: The deposition of uric acid crystals at the level of the renal tubules can lead to very painful renal colic.
  • Itching: hyperuricemia can cause itching, localized in the joints (in this case, the diagnosis will be directed towards gout) or systemic (in this case, chronic renal failure is suspected).

Laboratory symptoms include:

  • High cholesterol: often hyperuricemia is also associated hypercholesterolemia... The relationship between these two parameters is not clear, but it seems that the reason lies in the consumption of fatty meat and the presence of hypertension.
  • High ferritin: hyperuricemia is accompanied by an increase ferritin levels.
  • High ESR: An increase in uric acid levels and a simultaneous acceleration of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can direct the diagnosis towards gout.

Excess uric acid in the blood can lead to life-threatening consequences in the long term.

Among the main ones:

  • Gout: This is an inflammatory pathology, which is characterized by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. This causes inflammation of the joint, which swells, hurts, and sometimes has a fever. Uric acid crystals can also be deposited at the level of certain organs, such as the kidneys, causing organ malfunction and damage.
  • Kidney problems: Excess uric acid can lead to various kidney problems. In particular, it can determine the formation of stones, the development of nephropathy, acute renal failure.
  • Diabetes and diseases of the cardiovascular system: High levels of uric acid can lead to diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, but all studies have failed to find mechanisms leading to this.
  • Toxicosis of pregnant women: Apparently, high levels of uric acid during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, can cause toxicosis in pregnant women. The study found that 90% of women who had high levels of uric acid during pregnancy often complained of toxicosis.

Rash with psoriasis

The first visible sign of psoriasis is the appearance of a rash with a diameter of about 1 to 2 mm. These are pustules that look like small pink or bright red bumps, and loose silvery-white scales can be observed on their surface. Later, the papules enlarge and reach the size of a drop, later - coins. After a while, these areas begin to merge and form foci.

Depending on the characteristics of the rash, there are 3 forms of psoriasis:

  • Guttate psoriasis - tear-shaped papules.
  • Punctate psoriasis - the size of the rash is smaller than the head of a pin.
  • Coin-shaped psoriasis - plaques with rounded edges and grows up to 3-5 mm.

The papules are covered with scales that can be easily removed. These are keratinized cells of the epidermis. A pink rim may form around such a rash - this is the growth zone of the spot.

Plaques for psoriasis

Psoriasis is characterized by disturbances in the process of cell formation - new cells are formed very quickly, while old ones do not have time to die off. They are layered on top of each other and form a kind of growths - plaques.

The appearance of plaques in psoriasis depends on the type of disease. Often they are crusts with a gray, yellow-brown or silvery shade on the surface of the reddened skin.

The plaques are usually round in shape, sometimes some bends are observed. Their diameter ranges from 2 to 8 cm. The shape and prevalence of plaques depends on the general condition of the body, nutrition, psycho-emotional mood and weather.

Psoriasis plaques tend to grow along the periphery, combine with each other and form huge spots or foci, while the affected area can cover an area of ​​more than half of the human body surface. But sometimes only one or two plaques can be observed on the body without a tendency to grow.

Spots with psoriasis

In the center of the foci of inflammation, the process of resorption begins over time - these areas turn pale, flatten. The inflammatory process grows along the edges of the focus and takes on a varied shape in the form of rings, arcs, garlands, or have a bizarre shape in the form of geographical maps.

When psoriasis passes into the stationary stage, the spread of plaques throughout the body stops and new spots no longer appear. At this stage, the scales completely cover the spots. Over time, they peel off and only traces of plaques remain on the skin - pigmented spots, they do not protrude above the surface of the skin. These spots fade with the skin tone over time and disappear. Dosed exposure to the sun has a positive effect on the evening of skin color.

Psychosomatics for psoriasis

The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, but according to scientists, the true causes of the disease lie in the psychological and mental state of a person. The disease can begin from the patient's dissatisfaction with the appearance of his body, position in society, the world around him.

Often the localization of the rash indicates the causes of psoriasis. So, in patients who believe that those around them are underestimated, the symptoms of psoriasis appear on the head, and psoriasis on the hands may indicate misunderstandings with family and friends.

In the treatment of psoriasis, it is important to use not only drugs, but also to learn how to suppress negative emotions, be able to adapt to others, and compromise.

Diagnosis criteria

The diagnosis of "psoriasis" is established by the doctor, while taking into account:

  • clinical picture of the disease;
  • symptoms of the psoriatic triad;
  • the presence of the Kebner phenomenon in a progressive stage.

The phenomenon of stearin spot - when scraping the papule, peeling can be observed, which outwardly resembles pounded stearin.

Terminal film phenomenon - after removing the scales, a smooth, shiny surface can be observed.

The phenomenon of pinpoint bleeding is the appearance of individual droplets of blood on the surface of the terminal film after it is scraped off.

The Kebner phenomenon is a manifestation of new rashes at the site of irritations, which are observed in the acute phase of the disease.

In some cases, a histological examination of the affected tissue is additionally carried out for such changes:

  • lack of a granular layer;
  • acanthosis with lengthening of the epidermal processes;
  • increased vascularization;
  • thinning of the growth layer of the epidermis over the elongated and edematous dermal papillae;
  • Munro microabscesses;
  • the predominance of lymphohistiocytic infiltration around the vessels.