Uric acid is an end product of protein metabolism, and is excreted by the kidneys and bowels. This metabolic waste is not the same as digestive waste like feces. You have higher uric acid levels when you eat a diet high in purines, which are ultimately degraded to uric acid. Purine is a base like the adenine and guanine in your DNA. An elevation of the level of uric acid in the blood is considered a precursor condition for certain health disorders.
Gout
Gout is a painful type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals, called tophi, accumulate in the joints. Gout causes severe pain, redness and inflammation. More than 80 percent of initial gout attacks involve the large joint of your big toe. Untreated gout can destroy cartilage and erode the joints. Losing functional ability from gout is uncommon. However, repeated gout attacks can progress until you're disabled, and your quality of life may be impaired by the condition.
Kidney Stones
A uric acid stone may develop when the urine contains excessive amounts of uric acid. Uric acid stones account for 5 to 13 percent of all kidney stones, according to Columbia University Medical Center. Kidney stones are a severe, painful condition. The pain typically starts in your side or back, especially in the area of the kidney just below your ribs. The pain may spread to groin as the stone moves through your urinary tract.
Kidney Failure
High uric acid levels raise the risk of kidney disease in healthy people, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. When your blood's uric acid level becomes elevated, it can interfere with normal kidney function. If left untreated, a high uric acid level can damage the organs and ultimately lead to kidney failure. When the kidneys stop working, toxic waste products accumulate in your body and cause symptoms of chronic kidney failure. You then need either dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive.
