Uric acid is a normal substance in the body and is composed of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. This compound travels through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is removed and excreted in urine. However, some diseases are associated with the buildup of uric acid in the body, and the result can be very painful.
How the Body Produces Uric Acid
Uric acid is produced in the body when molecules called purines are broken down. Purines are present in several different types of food and beverages, such as mackerel, anchovies and herring; beans, peas, mushrooms and asparagus; and beer and wine. Purines are also some of the molecules that make up DNA, the genetic material in the body. When a cell is damaged or no longer needed, its components, including the genetic material, are broken down and either recycled to form other cells or removed from the body. When the DNA molecules are not needed anymore, the purines in the DNA are ultimately processed into uric acid.
Gout
Gout is one disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the body. The most common cause of uric acid accumulation in the body is when the kidneys are not able to remove uric acid at a normal rate. Uric acid levels in the body can also rise when the body produces higher than normal amounts of uric acid, which may occur due to an inherited disease or as a result of leukemia. The excess uric acid often travels to and accumulates in other sites in the body, resulting in the disease gout. This disease is characterized by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, which can cause painful inflammation. The most common joints affected are those of the feet, especially the big toe.
Kidney Stones
Uric acid buildup in the body can also lead to uric acid stones that lodge in the kidney or the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Fortunately, this type of stone is more easily treated than other types of kidney stones, as the administration of certain drugs can dissolve them. These stones may occur in conjunction or independently of gout.
Tests
If you or your doctor suspects you have excess uric acid in the blood, your doctor may recommend a uric acid blood test. For this test, a blood sample is taken, usually from the vein located on the inside of the elbow joint. The blood sample is then sent to the lab, where a technician will test the blood for the amount of uric acid present. This test generally requires that you not eat or drink anything for four hours before the test. Certain drugs can increase the amount of uric acid present in the blood, so make sure to discuss all of the medications you are taking with your doctor. Alcohol consumption can also increase uric acid blood levels.
