Uric Acid Nephropathy Workup

  • Author: Mark T Fahlen, MD; Chief Editor: Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN   more...
 
Updated: Sep 21, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Hyperuricemia is an important finding; urate levels in the plasma often exceed 15 mg/dL and can peak as high as 50 mg/dL. However, tumor lysis syndrome in the context of normouricemia has been reported.[13] Progressive azotemia and hyperphosphatemia are other important findings.
  • An increased serum lactate dehydrogenase level is suggestive of a large tumor burden and correlates with risk.
  • Urinalysis results are usually bland.
    • Uric acid and sodium monourate crystals may be observed.
    • Although variable, uric acid levels in the urine may be as high as 150-200 mg/dL.
  • A random ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine higher than 1 is also suggestive of acute uric acid nephropathy.
  • A disproportionate elevation in serum uric acid levels also can be a diagnostic clue.
  • Elevated serum and urinary uric acid levels correlate with the frequency of nephrolithiasis, and 50% of patients with serum uric acid levels greater than 13 mg/dL or urinary uric acid secretion higher than 1100 mg/d will form stones. Uric acid stones are radiolucent, and the urinary uric acid crystals are reddish-orange. Urate crystals have several forms but tend to be needle-shaped or flat, square plates; both are strongly birefringent.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Mark T Fahlen, MD  Inc

Mark T Fahlen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Renal Physicians Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN  Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine; President and CEO, Space City Associates of Nephrology

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, and National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: South Shore DaVita Dialysis Center Ownership interest Other

Specialty Editor Board

Frank C Brosius III, MD  Nephrology Program Director, Professor of Internal Medicine and Physiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Michigan School of Medicine

Frank C Brosius III, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Diabetes Association, American Society of Nephrology, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Eleanor Lederer, MD  Professor of Medicine, Chief, Nephrology Division, Director, Nephrology Training Program, Director, Metabolic Stone Clinic, Kidney Disease Program, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Louisville Veterans Affairs Hospital

Eleanor Lederer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation, International Society of Nephrology, Kentucky Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Dept of Veterans Affairs Grant/research funds Research

Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN  Professor of Medicine, Section Chief, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, West Virginia University School of Medicine

Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, Renal Physicians Association, and West Virginia State Medical Association

Disclosure: Renal Ventures Ownership interest Other

Chief Editor

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN  Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Medicine Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, and International Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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